Hq. 






L^^r 



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Aq^ 



^^emmiscentes of Cro^), 

FROM 

Its Settlement in 1790 to 1807, 

WITH 

'Remarks on its Commerce ^ Enterprise, Improve- 
ments, State of Political Parties, 

AND 

SKETCHES OF INDIVIDUAL CHARACTER. 

Written at the Request of several Gentlemen of Troy, 

BY JOHN WOODWORTH. 

SECOND EDITION, 

WITH 

NOTES, 

Explanatory, Biographical, Historical, and Antiquarian. 

•^ y OF Cg T 

J. MUNSELL, 78 STATE STREET. 

M.D.CCC.LX.. 




if^ N^"^ 






ALBANY: 

MUNSELL & ROWLAND, 

PRINTERS. 




PUBLISHER'S NOTICE. 



THE following Pages were written by the late Hon. John 
WooDwoRTH, in the Year 1853, at the Request of his Friend, 
the Hon. Isaac McConihe of Troy. The Author was then eighty- 
five Years of Age, and yet he still retained vivid Recollections 
of the Origin and Progress of the City in which he began the 
Career of Manhood. His Dates are given with remarkable 
Accuracy, although half a Century had elapsed since the 
Period denoted by them. It must also be borne in Mind that 
during those fifty Years the Writer had been occupied with 
engrossing Cares, and arduous Duties, in another City. A 
small Edition of his Reminiscences was printed for private Distri- 
bution. A renewed Inquiry having been made for the Work 
since the Death of the Author, whicli occurred in 1858, the 
Publisher, to gratify Friends and Collectors, has issued this 
Edition of two hundred Copies. The Text has been in no Wise 
altered, but all the Notes which are appended to it have been 
added in this Edition, and contain such incidental Facts as 
were suggested by the Subjects treated of. The Biographical 



iv Publisher's Notice. 

Sketch of Judge Woodworth, was copied from the Notes of the 
Council of Revision by Alfred B. Street, Esq., and that of the Rev. 
Jonas Coe, is taken from the Annals of the American Puljpit by 
the Rev. Dr. W. B. Sprague. The Address of Hon. DAvm Buel, 
Jr., has also been used to a considerable Extent, to correct or 
illustrate the Text, and by the Courtesy of B. H. Hall, Esq., 
many Facts have been suggested and furnished, in addition to 
those which bad fallen in the Way of the Publisher, while 
gathering similar Matters relating to Albany. The History 
of the Purchase and Transfers of the Ground upon which Troy 
now stands is traced to its Origin; the Genealogy of the Van 
DER Heyden Family, the Patroons of Troy, is as complete as it 
is possible to make it; and both are now for the first Time pub- 
lished. If it shall be found that many Things are still wanting 
to complete the History of the Period embraced in this Work, 
let us hope that Troy will soon raise up a Historian, who, 
with the Perseverance of a Dutch Commentator, shall indite 
her whole Story, and leave no Deed or Occurrence untold. 
With no definite Plan of his own for such a Labour, the 
Publisher would here state, that he will be grateful to any 
Person who may possess Information respecting the early Set- 
tlement or Settlers of Troy, if such Person will send it to him 
at Albany, or to Mr. B. H. Hall at Troy. 




REMINISCENCES OF TROY. 



To THE Hon. Judge McConihe : 
Dear Sir: 

FTER the Close of the Revolutionary 
War, in 1785, when quite a Lad, un- 
der the Instruction of the late Hon. 
John Lovett,^ of facetious Memory, 
then Principal of an Academy in Albany, 
one bright Morning in April, on his Invita- 

but when Lisbonwa.s set onfrom 
that Town, it was included in. 
the Latter. The Property still 




^ JonN LovETT was a De- 
scendant of an English Family 
which immigrated as early as 
1640, and settled in a beautiful 
Location in Connedimt, upon the 
Quinnebaug River, which disem- 
bogues into the Thames at New 
London. It originally formed a 
Part of the Town of Norwich, 



remains in the Possession of 
the Descendants of the origin- 
al Owners, its ancient Burial 
Place filled with Monuments 
whose Inscriptions are so worn 
by Time and the Elements that 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



tion, I embarked with him in a Canoe to make 
a voyage to Half-Moon Point] now the Village of 



the Traditions of the Place 
alone tell who are the Occu- 
pants. Among them is seen 
the Grave of a " Cadet of the 
House of Lovat," who after a 
clandestine Marriage with a 
Grand-daughter of the Lord 
Sands who figures in Shak- 
SPE are's Play of Henry VIII, 
fled to this Country, where they 
found a Resting Place and a 
Grave amongst those of their 
fellow Puritans. The wildest 
and most exciting Engage- 
ments between the Pequot and 
Mohegan Tribes and the Early 
Settlers, took Place in this 
Vicinity. These may have fos- 
tered the Military Spirit for 
which this little Settlement was 
afterwards noted. On the 
breaking out of the Revolu- 
tionary War, and at one of its 
darkest Periods, when every 
Chance appeared to be against 
the Success of the American 
Arms, the Rev. Andrew Lee 
gave Notice from his Pulpit, 
that early on the following 



Morning a Meeting was re- 
quested of every Male Member 
of his Congregation, to pray 
for the Success of their Bre- 
thren in Arms, and to organize 
a Body of Volunteers from that 
Parish. They enrolled them- 
selves almost to a Man, under 
Capt. Lovett; the Pastor also 
went with them, and every Fe- 
male assisted in fitting them 
out. It was in the Midst of 
this and other similar Scenes 
that Mr. LovETT received his 
first Impressions. Distinguish- 
ed for Precocity of Mind, ex- 
traordinary Memory, and the 
great Progress he made in his 
Studies, he was placed at Leba- 
non, then the most noted School 
in that Region, to prepare him- 
self to enter Yale College. In 
the latter Institution he attract- 
ed the Attention of President 
Stiles by his uncommon At. 
tainments in the Classicks, as 
well as by his Poetical Efforts. 
At the Weekly Exercises in 
Oratory, he uniformly recited 



Reminiscences of Troy. 3 

Waterford. Mr. Lovett's Servant Man was of the 
Party. We tugged at the Oars against a strong 



Compositions of his owu, which 
being often humorous, received 
the Applause of grave Profess- 
ors as well as the more youth- 
ful Auditory. He was graduat- 
ed in 1782 with Distinction, 
and soon after went to Albany, 
whither he had been invited, 
with the Encouragement that an 
Academical Institution would 
be opened, at the Head of 
which he would be placed. He 
took with him the highest Re- 
commendations from President 
Stiles, not only for Attainments 
in Knowledge, but also for Ex- 
cellence and Purity of Charac- 
ter, which gave him the Con- 
fidence of the Strangers among 
whom he was to cast his Lot 
for Life. Disappointed in the 
Result of the Efforts that were 
made for the Establishment of 
a Seminary of Learning there^ 
he commenced the Study of the 
Law in the Office of Richard 
SiLi,, then one of the eminent 
Lawyers of Albany, where he 
had the Advantage of making 



the Acquaintance of Gen. Schuy- 
ler, Gen. Hamilton, Abraham 
Van Vechten, Col. Trodp, and 
Col. Burr, who was then at the 
Zenith of his Reputation. There 
he also became acquainted with 
Col. DuER, the Father of the two 
distinguished Lawyers which 
have since borne his name. By 
his Representations he was in- 
duced, soon after being admit- 
ted to Practice, to proceed to 
Fort Miller, where the Colonel 
had made a very large Purchase 
of Land, and begun his Settle- 
ment in a new Country, where 
the surrounding Woods reach- 
ed the Outskirts of his Build, 
ings, by erecting a Mansion 
one hundred and forty-four Feet 
longl The Lady Katy, as the 
Courtesy of that Day termed 
his Wife, the eldest Daughter 
of Lord Stirling, was residing 
there with her two little Sons 
and their Tutor, Mr. Lovett as 
General Agent, and a Land 
Steward, who was to sell the 
Land if any one wished to pur- 



4 Reminiscences of Troy. 

Current, making slow Progress, continually ad- 
monished, if 



chase — the Wolves howling in 
Chorus around the very pur- 
liens of the Italian Piazzas. 
Here Mr. Lovett commenced 
Pi-ofessional Life, and to this pe- 
culiarly romantick Residence, 
he took his youthful Wife from 
Connecticut, a Daughter of Gen. 
McClellan, and remained there 
several Years, gaining the Con- 
fidence and Esteem of the Peo- 
ple to such a Degree, as to lay 
the Foundation of a very large 
and profitable Business in his 
Profession, after his Removal 
to Lansinghirgh. The Story of 
the Feudal Grandeur which was 
commenced at Fort Miller is 
soon told. Col. DuER never 
went up there himself; the 
Lady Katy and her two little 
Sons returned to New York; and 
the only Advantage resulting 
from this Magnificent Scheme 
was the Habit of Publick 
Speaking which the young 
DuERs acquired, by being placed 
upon the Dinner Table by their 
Mother, every Day, after the 



Cloth was removed, and there 
taught to speak unabashed by 
the Company that might be 
Present. The Establishment 
went to Ruin, was torn down, 
and the Material sold for a 
Trifle; and thus ended this as 
well as other similar and equal- 
ly vain Attempts to build up 
Seigniories in this State like 
those of Canada. From Fort 
Miller Mr. Lovett removed to 
Lansingburgh ; which, strange 
to say, attracted more Atten- 
tion in the last Century than 
it has since. Here he enjoyed 
many Years of Peace, Prosper- 
ity and Happiness. In 1800 
he was elected a Member of 
Assembly from Rensselaer Coun- 
ty. The Profits of his profes- 
sional Life enabled him to pur- 
chase a Number of beautiful 
Farms on the Hiidson River, and 
indulge that Taste which was 
almost a Passion with him, for 
Agricultural Pursuits. In 180T 
he removed to Albany, where 
a large Portion of his earliest 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



" We slack our Hands, or cease to strive, 
Then down the Flood with headlong Haste we drive." 

About Sun-set we arrived at the south Part of the 



Friends welcomed him again. 
He took an active Part in the 
exciting political Controversies 
of the Day, and his ready Pen 
was brought into constant Re- 
quisition, for the Service of the 
Federal Party, to which, from 
Youth, he had been most warm- 
ly attached. He continued the 
Practice of the Law, to which 
were added the Duties of Clerk 
of the Common Council, until 
the breaking out of the War in 
1812. This Measure, although 
so strongly opposed by his 
Party, became the Law of the 
Land. Gen. Stephen Van Rens- 
selaer, his early Friend, was 
appointed to the Command of 
the Troops destined for the 
Defence of the North- Western 
Frontier, and at his earnest So- 
licitation Mr. Lovett was in- 
duced to accompany him as 
Military Secretary. In answer 
to Mr. Lovett's Doubt as to 
how he should succeed as a 



Soldier, since he had never even 
trained as a Militiaman in his 
Life, the General replied: "It 
is not your Sword, but your 
Pen, that I want." It was a 
fearful Crisis in the Life of the 
General, involving his Reputa- 
tion. One Party boldly advo- 
cated an Agrarian Law, to di- 
vide these overgrown Estates 
among the People, if their Own- 
ers declined to come out at the 
Call of their Government and 
defend them. Mr. Lovett's per- 
sonal Attachment to the General 
was such that he did not hesi- 
tate to assume this new Calling. 
The Party of Citizen Soldiers 
marched to Canada, accompa- 
nied by many brave Volunteers 
who were destined never to re- 
turn. Before the Dawn of that 
disastrous Day of the Battle of 
Queenstown, the General request- 
ed Mr. Lovett to take Charge 
of a Battery erected on the 
American Side, which was to 



6 Reminiscences of Troy. 

Village of Lansingburgh, where dwelt, on the Bank 
of the River, one Baily Austin. The young Lad 
was landed for the Night ; J^r. Lovett continued 



keep in Check auy Body of tbe 
Enemy that should appear on 
their own high and broken 
Bank, and by a well directed 
Fire to prevent them from fir- 
ing down upon the American 
Troops, which were crossing 
the Stream below to make the 
Attack. He took his Post with 
Alacrity, but when the Battle 
commenced it was too dai'k to 
distinguish, without the great- 
est Care, the American Troops 
ascending the Heights, from 
those of the Enemy rushing to 
defend them ; and as Mr. Lovett 
placed his Hand upon a heavily 
loaded Cannon, and stooped to 
see that it was properly aimed, 
it was touched off, and the 
Shock nearly deprived him of 
His Hearing. He received an 
Injury to his Ears which was 
permanent, and beyond surgi- 
cal Aid. The History of this 
Battle and its Results are fa- 
miliar. Gen. Van Rensselaer 



returned Home, leaving Mr. 
Lovett in Attendance upon his 
tried and attached Friend, Gen. 
Solomon Van Rensselaer, who 
had been so severely wounded 
as to be incapable of Removal. 
After a long and tedious Con- 
valescence, Mr. Lovett accom- 
panied his Companion Home. 
The Citizens of Albany turned 
out to meet them on Horseback, 
and escorted them into tbe City 
with all the Honours of a Ro- 
man Triumph. Shortly after, 
Mr. Lovett was elected to a Seat 
in the 13th Congress, where he 
renewed his old Acquaintance 
with Gov. Meigs of Ohio, who, 
as United States Surveyor, had 
become familiar with the best 
Tracts of Land offered about 
this Time at Publick Sale. Pre- 
eminent among them he re- 
garded the Reservation of the 
Twelve Mile Square, at the Mouth 
of the Maumee, which was just 
surveyed, and had never before 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



the Voyage ; the Parting was rather unpleasant, 
though not comparing with the Case of Calypso, 
who remained disconsolate after the departure of 
Ulysses. 

The next Morning, Mr. Lovett returned. We 
wended our way back to Albany. In gliding down 



been ofifered for Sale. It em- 
braced the Site of Fort Meigs, 
directly opposite Gen. Wayne's 
Battle Ground. Mr. Lovett 
purchased it, and commenced 
the Settlement of Perryshurgh. 
In connection with Dr. Jose- 
PHus B. Stewart, he built the 
first Steam Boat that navigat- 
ed the Waters of Lake Erie, 
named, in Honour of the Indian 
Chief, Walk'in-the-Water_; for 
many Years a regular Trader 
between Buffalo and the Rapids 
of the Maumee, now known as 
Perryshurgh. The Development 
of the Resources of this Sec- 
tion of Country has shown the 
Correctness of Mr. Lovett's 
Judgment in making the Se- 
lection. A magnificent Bridge 
now spans the Matimee River at 
Perryshurgh, over which must 



pass most of the Travel by 
Land from the North-East to 
the South- West Part of the ad- 
joining States. The Wahash 
and Indiana Canal opens in 
Front of the Town, and regular 
Steam Boats run from Perrys- 
hurgh to Detroit every day. 
Most of those who planned 
these Improvements have long 
since mingled their Remains 
with the Clods of the Valley — 
the Fate of those who lead the 
Way in all the Openings of the 
Settlements of our Country, as 
well as Others. Mr. Lovett 
withstood for a while the 
Effects of a long protracted 
Illness of Lake Fever, brought 
on by Exposure, but sunk at 
last. The Memory of his Ta- 
lents and Virtues are still che- 
rished by numerous Friends 



8 Reminiscences of Troy, 

the beautiful Hudson, on the gentle Current, I well 
remember the Ground on which the City of Troy, 
is now located.'^ Then all was quiet; no Bustle of 
Commerce at that Time. There stood at some 
Distance from each other, three ancient brick 
Buildings, probably erected, in the preceding Cen- 



who mourned his early Re- 
moval from a large and de- 
voted Family. He died at 
Fort Meigs in August, 1818, 
in the 53d Year of his Age. 

2 In the Year n20, a Grant 
of 490 Acres, extending along 
the Hudson, from the Foesten Kill 
to Meadow Creek, and compre- 
hending the original Allotments 
of the City, was made in Fee by 
the Proprietor of the Manor of 
Rensselaer swyk to Derik Van der 
Heyden, at the annual Rent 
of three Bushels and three 
Pecks of Wheat, and four fat 
Fowls. This Plain and the 
first Range of Hills were pos- 
sessed by the Grantee and his 
Descendants, and some small 
Portions of it cultivated as a 
Farm. At the time the late 



venerable Mr. Elijah Adams 
first knew the Van der Heyden 
Lands, there were Strips or 
Patches within the present Site 
of the City, known as the Corn 
Grounds of the Indians. Some 
Years after Mr. Adams came 
here to reside, a full grown 
Bear swam across the Hudson, 
landed near the Upper Ferry, 
and being pursued, ran among 
the Oaks with which the Plain 
was covered, and ascended a 
Pine Tree near the Building 
now occupied as the Rensselaer 
Institute, from which he was 
brought down by Mr. Adams's 
Rifle. It does not appear that 
this Spot had attracted much 
Attention until three or four 
Years after the Termination of 
the Revolutionary War, when 
one or two Individuals from 



Reminiscences of Troy. 9 

tury ; the most northern occupied by Jacob I. Van 
DER Heyden, familiarly known as Big Jacob ; next 
came Jacob D. Van der Heyden, owner of the greater 
Part of the Ground on which the City is built, and 
under whom, or his Descendants, the Inhabitants 
hold Title ; the last was the dwelling of Mat. Van 
DER Heyden,^ which I observed, a few days since, 



the Eastern States, observing- 
its favourable situation, per- 
suaded the IHitch Proprietors 
of the Soil to lay out a Portion 
of their Lands into Town Lots. 
When the first Surveys were 
made, the Place was not known 
by Any fixed Name. A letter 
written by one of the earliest 
Adventurers {Mr. Benjamin Co- 
vell) in the Fall of 1786, is 
dated at Ferry Hook. Several 
letters written by the same 
Person between the Months of 
April and September, in the 
Year ll8t, are dated at Rens- 
selaerwyk, a Town which era- 
braced one third of the whole 
County. In the Fall of HBT, 
the name Vander/ieyden, as a 
Designation of the embryo Vil- 
lage, began to be used by the 



Settlers; and that Name is 
found in the Leases of Lots 
granted at that Period. — Judge 
BueVs Address. 

^ Matthias, Proprietor of the 
Farm situated South of Division 
Street, was the Father of Uncle 
Derick, who was the Father of 
the Matthias here alluded to. 
His House is still standing on 
the Corner of Division and River 
Streets, and is the oldest House 
in Troy. It was built before the 
French War, as early as the 
Year 1752. The principal Story 
remains in its original State; 
but its Glory has departed, and 
Ichahod might well be inscribed 
on its Walls. It was former- 
ly surmounted by a Gambrel 
Roof, but that has been sup- 



10 Reminiscences of Troy. 

was standing, a Relick of former Times. There 

was a Stillness, a^nd I may say a Solitude, about 




VanUerheyden Ilouse, erected 1752. 



planted by a more Yankee Cov- 
eriog. On the Front of the 
House, between the two Win- 
dows on the Left, and a little 
above them, is inserted a Brick, 
with the broad Surface out- 
ward, on which is cut these 
Letters and Figures: avH. ad. 
1753. The Position of the D 
would seem to indicate that 
the Vision of the Artist might 
have been slightly turned by 
the Merry Ale of that Day. .Be- 
tween the Second Window on 
the Left, and the Door, and a 
little above them, is inserted 
another Brick of the same De- 
cription, on which is cut the fol- 



lowing: MVH. 1753. South of 

the South Window, and a little 
above it, is cut, on a similar 
Brick, iVH. 175a. These Ini- 
tials are supposed to have 
stood for Dirk, (or Derick, 
Richard), Matthias and Jagob 
Van der Heyden. 

Jacob L, Proprietor of the 
Northern Farm, or upper Part 
of the City, was a Grandson 
of Dirk, the original Lessee, 
lie married Maria, Daughter of 
Aaron Van Schaick of Coxsackie. 
The House he occupied (and 
which has been owned and oc- 
cupied about thirty Years by 
Dr, A. D. Spook, now of Louisville, 



Reminiscences of Troy. 11 

these Dwellings, as profound as the Quiet that 
surrounded Rip Van Winkle in Sleepy Hallow. Ah, 
who at that Day could look forward through the 
dark Vista of Time, and conjecture the future 
Destiny of this Queen of Cities! 



Ky.), was built for liim in the 
Year 1167, after oral Instruc- 
tions of his Father on his Death- 
bed at Albany, where, while on 
a Visit, he was seized with a 
violent Colick, of which he died 
suddenly, under Circumstances 
that prevented the Execution 
of a Will in due Form, It is 
built of Bricks 9 inches long 
by 4| inches wide, and less 
than 2 inches thick, and baked 
so thoroughly as to resist all 
Attempts to cut them with a 
Trowel. It is one Story high, 
with a Gambrd or Curb Roof, 
the Rafters of which are nearly 
vertical, and these, starting 
from the Side-walls, several 
Feet above the Second Floor, 
make the upper Rooms equiva- 
lent to a second Story, except 
that they are lighted only by 
Windows at the Ends of the 
House. The original Shingles 



were three Feet long, secured 
by large tenpenny Wrought- 
Nails, which were replaced in 
1834 by new ones of modern 
Dimensions; the first having 
withstood the Elements sixty- 
seven Years. The Floor Tim- 
ber is all Oak or Yellow-pine, 
and still perfectly sound. The 
Floors, and the Casings of the 
Doors and Windows, are all 
Yellow-pine; and even the 
Doors and Sashes were of the 
same Material, and made in the 
Style of that remote Period; 
but were replaced by new ones 
in 1834. The House stands 
about one hundred Feet from 
the east Line of River Street, 
between Hoosick and Vanderhey- 
den Streets. When the House 
was built, however, River 
Street had not been laid out, 
and the Road to Lansinghurgh 
ran East of it, and the Home- 



12 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



About this Time, and for several Years after, 
might be seen a solitary Scow, occasionally cross- 
ing the River,^ under the Direction of that old ex- 



stead embraced all the Ground 
on the west Side, down to the 
River. The Indians still had 
Wigwams a few Rods north of 
the House, at the Time it was 
built. The Mansion House was 
apportioned to Derick I. in the 
Partition of the Estate. 

Jacob D., was Proprietor 
of the Middle Farm, which 
was first laid out into City 
Lots and built on, and he 
therefore was called Patroon. 
His Mansion was the large 
Brick Building still standing in 
the Walnut Grove, at the south- 
west Corner of Eighth and 
Grand-Division Streets, near the 
Church of the Holy Cross. His 
Wife was a Yates. He died 
4th Sept., 1809, leaving several 
Sons. One of them, Derick G., 
built and occupied as a Man- 
sion the brick Building at the 
Corner of River and Ferry 
Streets, which has since been 
enlarged, and converted into a 
Publick House, known at pre- 



sent as the St. Charles Hotel. 
He died in one of the West 
India Islands, whither he had 
gone for the Benefit of his 
Health, and left two or three 
Daughters, all now Deceased. 
John G., another Son of Jacob 
D., married a Miss Gaston, and 
died childless: and Jacob, a 
younger Son, married a Sister 
of the above mentioned Miss 
Gaston; he died long since in 
London, England, leaving two 
Children, who are now, or were 
lately, living with their Mother 
in Lansinghurgh. 

•* This was at the Upper Ferry. 
May 25, 1198, Mahlon Taylor 
advertised that he had estab- 
lished a new Ferry at the lower 
End of Troy, opposite to that 
of Mr. John Schuyler, where he 
had good safe Boats, and that 
the Ferriage was much shorter 
than the Other. This latter 
Ferry has been discontinued 
several Years. 



Reminiscences of Troy. 13 

perienced Ferryman, 'yclept Mat. Caldwell. He 
had become a fixture in his Vocation. Who that 
has seen sixty Winters, does not remember the 
well known Voice of Mat., crying, " Over ! Over ! " 
summoning his Passengers with a Shrillness only 
equaled by the Huntsman's Horn. Alas, with all 
his Care and Skill, in an evil Hour he took on 
Board an Overload of Cattle, driven from Vermont 
to the Albany Market ; they becoming restive, pre- 
cipitated into the River, and caused the Death of 
an interesting young Man, returning from his Re- 
sidence in Manchester, to visit the late James Cald- 
well and other Friends in Albany. His Name was 
McMath. His Death was much lamented. He 
was a Specimen of the warm-hearted Friendship 
and manly Virtues frequently met with among the 
gifted Sons of the Emerald Isle. 

Within the last two Years you requested me to 
write Reminiscences of the First Settlement of Troy, 
its Inhabitants, and Progress for several of the next 
succeeding Years ; supposing that from my early 
Residence, commencing in its Infancy, I might be 



14 Reminiscences of Troy, 

able to communicate Information interesting to the 
present Generation, which could not be derived 
from any other Source. I declined the Invitation, 
under an Impression, that a mere Narrative of Facts 
within my Knowledge would not be sufficiently 
Interesting to become the Subject of Publication. 
So far as my Partialities were concerned, there was 
no Lack of kind Feeling; even in its Infancy, when 
I commenced my happy Sojourn among its Inhabit- 
ants, it might well compare with 

" Auburn, loveliest Village of the Plain," 

now a City, enriched by Intelligence, Commercial 
Enterprise, Wealth acquired by untiring Industry, 
and among the Foremost in extending the Influence 
of Moral and Religious Principles through our 
widely extended Domain. 

Within a few Days past, the Subject of your 
Request was revived. It appearing to me that 
something might be written of the Olden Time, 
calculated, if not to instruct, perhaps to amuse, by 
indulging a little in Thoughts, suggested while writ- 



Reminiscences of Troy. 15 

ing on the principal Subject, so as to render my 
desultory Remarks more acceptable to the Reader. 

But whence did Troy derive its Name? As to 
ancient Troy, it had long since been said, ^^ Ilium, 
fuit;^' the Remembrance was not forgotten, nor 
could the recorded Incidents in its History pass into 
Oblivion, so long as Homer fills his Readers with 
sublime Ideas; and Virgil has drawn together in 
the jEneiad all the pleasing Scenes his subject is 
capable of admitting. Every School Boy advanced 
in his Studies, knows the Cause of the Trojan War; 
fair Helen, wife of Menelaus, seduced by Paris, who 
had obtained admittance to the hospitable Mansion 
of the Husband, abducted the Prize, not unlike 
Occurrences in modern Times, when Marriage 
Vows are violated and forgotten. 

Whose Bosom is not warmed at the Hint of 
certain Passages in the Iliad? Who can read, 
.without Emotion, the Death and Funeral Rites of 
Patroclus? the Solemnities attending the Death 
and Funeral Honours of Hector ? the aged Priam 
begging of stern Achilles the Body of his Son, and 



16 Reminiscences of Troy. 

the lamentations of Andromache, Hecuba and Helen ? 

" Sucli Honours Ilium to her Hero paid, 

And peaceful slept the mighty Hectares Shade." 

More deeply interesting than all the Preceding, 
has ever appeared to me the Interview between 
Hector and Andrornache, his darling Wife. I have 
never met with any thing, in ancient and 
modern Story, more exquisitely tender, or more 
calculated to awaken the best Feelings of our 
Nature. To those whose Bosoms are not moved 
by this Description, I would say, 

" Some rugged Rock's hard Entrails gave the Form, 
And raging Seas produced them in a Storm." 

I will now speak of Things comparatively Recent. 
As early as 1788 the favourable Location of Troy did 
not escape the keen Discernment of Yankee Enter- 
prise.^ About this Time, or shortly after, some- 

* In the Year 1788, Elkanah the Road across a thickly set- 

Watson visited this Locality, tied Country, embracing many 

and made the following pro- fine Farms, to Ashley's Ferry, 

phetick Observations: six Miles above Albany. On 

From Schenectady I pursued the East Side of the River, at 



Reminiscences of Troy. 17 

thing like a scattered Settlement commenced, but 
inconsiderable for several Years thereafter. Ac- 
cording to my Recollection, in 1790, a Vote of the 
Inhabitants, assembled in a regular Meeting, was 
taken ; they resolved that thereafter the Place be 



this Point, a new Town has 
been recently laid out, named 
Vanderheyden. This Place is 
situated precisely at the Head 
of Navigation on the Hudson. 
Several bold and enterprising 
Adventurers have already set- 
tled here; a Number of capa- 
cious Warehouses, and several 
Dwellings, are already erected. 
It is favourably situated in Re- 
ference to the important and 
growing Trade of Vermont and 
Massachusetts; and I believe it 
not only bids Fair to be a 
serious Thorn in the Side of 
N'ew City [Lansingburgh] , but 
in the Issue a Fatal Rival. I 
spent a Day in examining this 
Locality, and then walked on 
the Banks of the Hudson, a 
Distance of three Miles, to 
ISTew City, where I continued 
several Days. This Place is 
thronged by mercantile Emi- 
3 



grants, principally from JS£W 
England, who have enjoyed a 
very extensive and lucrative 
Trade, supplying Vermont and 
the Region on both Banks of 
the Hudson, as far as Lake 
George, with Merchandise; and 
receiving, in Payment, Wheat, 
Pot and Pearl Ashes, and 
Lumber. But, as I remarked, 
I think VanderHeyden must, from 
its more eligible Position, at- 
tain the ultimate Ascendency. 
I took Passage in a Bateau at 
New City, to Albany, for the 
Purpose of sounding the River. 
The Result of my Examination 
satisfied me, that in ordinary 
Tides five or six Feet may be 
carried to within a Mile of New 
City, and from thence to that 
Town fifteen to eighteen In- 
ches. The Tides sensibly rise 
and fall as far up as Vander- 
heyden. 



18 Reminiscences of Troy. 

known by the Name of Troyf it was so known, 
when immediately after my Admission to the Bar 
of the Supreme Court, in 1791, I commenced my 
Residence in the Village. In that Year the County 
of Rensselaer was taken from the County of Albany 
and erected into a new County. The Judges of 
the Court of Common Pleas appointed were 
Anthony Ten Eyck, First Judge; Robert Wood- 
worth, Israel Thompson, Jonathan Brown and 
Jonathan Rouse, Judges ; Nicholas Schuyler, 
Clerk; Albert Pawling, Sheriff; and Moss Kent, 
Father of the late distinguished Chancellor Kent, 

^ The following appeared as in Future it should be called 

an Advertisement in the Albany and known by the Name of 
Gazette of 9th Jan., 1T89: T r O y . 

To THE PUBLIC. From its present improved 

'"pHis Evening the Freehold- State, and the more pleasing 

ers of the Place lately Prospect of its Popularity, aris- 

known as Vanderheydeii's or ing from the natural Advan- 

Ashley^s Ferry, situate on the tages in the Mercantile Line, 

East Bank of Hudson's River, it may not be too sanguine to 

about seven Miles above Alba- expect, at no very distant Pe- 

ny, met for the Purpose of es- riod, to see Troy as famous for 

tablishing a Name for the said her Trade and Navigation, as 

Place; when, by a Majority of many of our first Towns, 
Voices IT WAS coNFiBMED, that Troy, 5th January^ l^S9. 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



19 



Surrogate. The Courts were by Law directed to 
be held alternately at the Inn of Ananias Platt/ in 
the Village of Lansingburgh, and the Inn of Stephen 



^ Ananias Platt was an Inn- 
Keeper of Note in Lansing- 
burgh. In 1790 he obtained by- 
Legislative Grant the exclusive 
Right of running a Stage be- 
tween Lansingburgh and Albany. 
In 1794, grateful for Publick 
Custom, he undertook the Ex- 
periment of making two Trips 
a-Day down and back. In 1795 
he made six Trips a-Day. In 
1796 he began to run a Line of 
Stages four Times a-Day to 
Schenectady. In the same Year 
the Lansingburgh Paper, speak- 
ing of Mr. Platt's Enterprise, 
says: A few Years ago there 
was but one Stage between 
this Place and Albany. It was 
established and maintained at 
great Expense by Mr. A. Platt, 
and for a considerable Time 
had little Encouragement. He 
however persevered, and at this 
Day, this Mode of Travelling 
has so increased, that twenty 
Stages pass and repass daily be- 
tween the neighbouring Towns 
of Lansingburgh, Troy, Water- 



ford and Albany, averaging 
more than 150 Passengers a- 
Day; a Proof of our growth 
and Prosperity. He afterwards 
kept the Tontine in Albany, 
from 1798 to 1801, and was 
succeeded by Matthew Gregory. 
He died April 10, 1842, aged 
80. Having invested his small 
Savings in an Annuity which 
was sufBcient to support him- 
self and Wife in a frugal Way 
of living, he devoted the last 
Years of his Life to visiting 
the Sick and Poor, and dispens- 
ing the Charities of Persons 
who employed him as their Al- 
moner. His Widow died Dec. 




10, 1856, aged 86. The accom- 
panying Engraving of a Stage 
of 1790, is a Facsimile from the 
Newspapers of the Day. 



20 Reminiscences of Troy. 

Ashley, in the Village of Troy, and so continued 
until the Erection of a Court House in 1794. 

In 1791 there was not much Difference in the 
Number of Inhabitants each Village contained;^ 



■^ Lansinghurgh was then a 
Village of considerable Size 
and Commercial Importance. 
In Carey's Edition of Guthrie's 
Geography, published in It 95, 
it was noticed in the following 
Terms : " Lansinghurgh, form- 
erly called the New City, stands 
on the east Side of the Httdson, 
nine Miles north of Albany. 
It is a very flourishing Place, 
pleasantly situated on a Plain 
at the Foot of a Hill," At that 
Period, Troy had not been notic- 
ed by any of our Geographers. 
The Circumstances in which 
Troy was placed at its Begin- 
ning, seemed not propitious to 
its Growth. But a few Miles 
below was the ancient City of 
Albany, which for several Gen- 
erations had been the Mart of 
Trade for the entire Region 
around us. Above, within 
half the Distance, was the JVew 
City, already a thrifty Village, 
settled by Men of Enterprise. 



Hitherto Towns most favoura- 
bly situated had had a tardy 
Growth. At the Period when 
the Settlement of Troy com- 
menced, the Population of Al- 
bany probably did not Amount 
to 4000 ; although it had been 
incorporated as a City more 
than a Century. But the Es- 
tablishment of our Federal 
Government in 1789, gave a 
new impulse to the Country. 
The Spirit of Enterprise spread 
rapidly over our Land. The 
New State, as Vermont was then 
called, was speedily occupied 
by Immigrants from the older 
Eastern States. The enter- 
prising Sons of New England, 
sagacious to discover, and 
prompt to occupy Positions 
which promised Commercial 
Advantages, readily saw that 
a Town established at the 
Head of natural, ordinary Na- 
vigation on the Banks of the 
Hudson, would, after some 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



21 



Lansingburgh was the oldest Settlement, and put 
in strong Claims for the Court House ; Troy was 
equally zealous, contending it was more central ; 
an animated Spirit of Rivalry commenced, its In- 
fluence was felt in the State Election of 1798 ; the 



Struggle, outstrip the New City, 
which had been improvidently 
located above the Rapids. Nor 
did those sagacious Men be- 
lieve that a Town so favourably 
situated at the Distance of six 
Miles from Albany, would be 
wholly overshadowed by that 
ancient City. The earliest 
Surveys and Allotments were 
made between the Years 1786 
and 1790. The middle Allot- 
ment, of which Mr. Jacob D. 
Van der Heyden, (known in 
his Life Time as the Patroon 
of Troy), was the Proprietor, 
comprehended the Territory 
between Division and Grand 
Division Streets. The Farm 
House of the Patroon was on 
Ground now occupied by the 
National Hotel, corner of River 
and Ferry Streets. The Adven- 
turers, who had persuaded the 
quiet Occupants of the Van 
DER Heyden Farm Houses to 



lay out Part of their Farms 
into Village Lots, erected one 
or two slight Buildings in the 
Year 1786. The appellation of 
Vanderheyden was in the lat- 
ter part of the Year (1789), 
changed for a more Classick 
Name. Its Existence as a Vil- 
lage may be properly dated 
from the Year 1790. This was 
a Time of deep Interest and 
intense Eflfort for the Settlers. 
They were very few in Number, 
and possessed but little Sub- 
stance ; but they were Men of 
Courage and Activity. Among 
the first Settlers, who subse- 
quently distinguished them- 
selves by their Enterprise, may 
be mentioned Messrs. Stephen 
Ashley, Benjamin Covell, Sam- 
del Gale, Ephraim Morgan, 
John Boardman, Benjamin Smith, 
Philip Heartt, Anthony Good- 
speed, Mahlon Taylor, Ebene- 
zer Wilson, and Samuel Wil- 



22 Reminiscences of Troy. 

Trojans nominated Robert Woodworth for Senator, 
and an Assembly Ticket of five Members, com- 
posed of the following Names : Christopher Hutton, 
JosiAH Masters, Nicholas Staats, Jonathan Niles 
and Jonas Odel. 



SON. These Pioneers and their 
early Associates were com- 
pelled to embark in a Struggle 
with the then formidable Ntto 
City, which was sustained with 
great Spirit, but at first with 
doubtful Success, Before Troy 
had a Name, that Village had 
attained considerable Size, and 
had become the usual Mart of 
Trade for a considerable Sec- 
tion of the Nm> State and the 
Eastern Towns of this County. 
A respectable and enterprising 
Population, possessed of con- 
siderable Capital, were there 
collected. The Attempt to 
build up a rival Village at 
Vanderheyden^s Ferry, had a lit- 
tle of Temerity in its Appear- 
ance ; but the Adventurers, 
though few in Numbers, had 
explored their Ground. They 
were Men of shrewd Minds. 
They saw that Water Power 
here abounded — and that the 



River Navigation to this Point 
was easy. They judged that 
with its natural Advantages, 
their Enterprise could not fail. 
Shortly after the Commence- 
ment of their Settlement, an 
Event occurred which was fa- 
vourable to its Success. In 
1791, this County was detach- 
ed from Albany. The Question, 
where the Publick Buildings of 
the new County should be 
erected, was agitated with 
great Warmth. In this early 
Contest, Troy prevailed. The 
first Court House was erected 
here in 1193, and the first Jail 
in the following Year. The 
influential Men among the ear- 
ly Settlers were Supporters of 
the Institutions of Religion. 
While yet too few in Number, 
to erect a Temple devoted to 
Publick Worship, or to secure 
the Ministrations of a Clergy- 
man, they were accustomed to 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



23 



It was a mixed Ticket, composed in Part of Fe- 
deralists ; but all in favour of Troy on the Court 
House Question. Mr. Hutton was a Federalist, he 
resided in the upper Part of the Village; he had 
been an Officer in the Army of the Revolution, and 

assemble, at first in a Store, 
and subsequently in a School 
House, on the Sabbath, at the 
Sound of a Conchshell, and lis- 
ten to Sermons read by the el- 
der Dr. Gale, or the late Col. 
Pawling. The last mentioned 
Gentleman, after having sei-v- 
ed his Country in the Revolu- 
tionary War with such Fidelity 
as to have secured the Appro- 
bation of Washington, immi- 
grated from Esopus with Col. 
Ten Eyck, another Revolution- 
ary Patriot. These Gentlemen 
went at first to the New City, 
but soon removed to Troy and 
enrolled themselves with the 
early Settlers. In 1791, by 
the united Effort of the Inha- 
bitants, yet too few to gratify 
their denominational Predilec- 
tions, the Frame of a House 
for Publick Worship was erect- 
ed. In the following Year, 
(1792), the Building was en- 



closed and was soon occupied 
for Worship, although in an 
unfinished State. This Build- 
ing became the first Edifice of 
the Presbyterian Congregation. 
The Pastoral Services of the 
venerable Dr. Cos, during the 
Period which I am now review- 
ing, were equally divided be- 
tween Troy and Lansinghurgh ; 
his Residence being in the lat- 
ter Village. The Trade of Troy, 
during the Period under Re- 
view, was greatly sustained 
by the Purchase, Storing and 
Shipment of Grain. Wheat 
was then a staple Article of 
Produce of the Country on both 
Sides of the Hudson, the Valley 
of the Mohawk, the Shores of 
Lake Champlain, and of the 
whole Region which found its 
Market on the Hudson. The 
first Settlers constructed their 
Store-Houses for the Reception 
of Grain, fronting on River 



24 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



although not of high Grade, it was well understood 
by Persons familiar with the War of Independence 
that he was highly esteemed, and considered an 
Officer of great Merit by Washington. There was 
much of Dignity in his Personal Appearance, ac- 



Street extending towards the 
Eiver, with spacious Lofts, so 
that the Bags of Wheat brought 
in Waggons and Sleighs could 
be hoisted by Tackles and 
placed upon the Scales, and 
when weighed deposited in 
the Bins. From the Store- 
Houses it was conveyed by 
Spouts on Board the Vessels. 
By this means Cartage was 
saved. The numerous Water 
Privileges in the Vicinity soon 
began to be occupied. The 
enterprising Mahlon Taylor 
erected at an early Period, a 
Flouring Mill of spacious Di- 
mensions, for that Day, on the 
Poesten Kil. Within a short 
Time afterwards, another was 
erected by the late Moses Vail, 
near Ida Falls; and a third by 
Mr^ WiTBECK, near the Mouth 
of the Wynants Kil. Thus the 
Foundation was laid for car- 
rying on a Branch of Business, 



which has -ever since formed, 
an important Item in the Com- 
merce of Troy. As Troy unit- 
ed Advantages for the Recep- 
tion, Transportation and Manu- 
facture of Grain, greater than 
were possessed by Albany or 
Lansingburgk, it early took the 
Lead in those Branches. Troy, 
from its Commencement, en- 
gaged also in the Lumber 
Trade, in which it has ever 
since largely participated. 
During the Period under con- 
sideration. Pot and Pearl Ash- 
es were brought here in large 
Quantities, from Vermont and 
the Northern Counties of this 
State. Butter and Cheese have 
always constituted a consider- 
able Item of the Business of 
Troy. The first Newspaper 
was printed by Luther Pratt, 
in 1196 ; it was called the 
Farmer's Oracle. It was not 
continued long. After some 



Reminiscences of Troy. 25 

companied by a Suavity of Manner that made a fa- 
vourable Impression ; he was remarkable for Calm- 
ness, vk^hen others were excited ; his Conversation 
was always marked by good Sense; in short I 
considered him one of Nature's Noblemen. His 



Interval, the Northern Budget 
was established by Robert 
MoFFiT, in the Year 1798, and 
has continued ever since, with 
a slight Variation in the Name. 
The Troy Gazette, which was 
established by Thomas Collier 
in 1802, and the Farmers' Re- 
gister, by Francis Adancourt, in 
180*1. During this first Decade, 
a respectable Number of frame 
Stores of pretty large Dimen- 
sions, but constructed without 
much Regard to Taste, were 
erected at Intervals along the 
westerly Side of River Street, 
principally between Ferry and 
Albany Streets. The Dwellings 
were mostly of small Size, and 
slightly built. The first brick 
Dwelling House was erected 
by James Spencer, in the Year 
1195, on the Triangular Space 
included between River, Second 
and Albany Streets, and which, 
4 



in the original Plan of the City, 
was laid out into Building Lots. 
The Block of ill-shaped Build- 
ings erected upon it, was re- 
moved about 1820, under the 
Authority of a special Act of 
the Legislature, and the Area 
converted into a Publick Place, 
since called, with some Depart- 
ure from mathematical Preci- 
sion, Washington Square. In 
the Year 1799, four Brick 
Dwelling Houses were erected, 
viz.. No. 31 First Street, Nos. 
20 and 22 Second Street, and 
the Building on the Corner of 
River and Washington Streets. 
Several brick Dwelling Houses 
were erected in the three fol- 
lowing Years, but it is believed 
that no brick Store was built 
during the last Century. The 
Commerce of Troy during the 
Period under Review, partook 
more of the barter Kind than 



26 Reminiscences of Troy. 

Brother and Partner, Timothy Hutton, was an 
estimable Man; without much Training in Schools, 
he was a Gentleman of polished Manners, of strict 
Integrity, and always to be relied on as a valued 
Friend ; he was the Father of the Rev. Dr. Hut- 



it has since done. The Capi- 
tal embarked in Trade was 
small ; no Bank had been es- 
tablished, and much of the- Pro- 
duce brought to Market was 
received in Store to be shipped 
to New York, and sold for the 
Account of the Owners. But 
the Character of the first Eace 
of Business Men, supplied to 
some Extent the Want of Capi- 
tal, Their unbending Integri- 
ty and untiring Industry, early 
gained for the Business Men of 
Troy, a Reputation which es- 
tablished their Credit on an 
enduring Basis. Their Habits 
of Business and Economy, in- 
spired Confidence in the City 
and Country. Their Hours of 
Relaxation were few, and their 
Devotion to Business intense. 
The Places of Business were 
open at Sunrise and never clos- 
ed before nine o'clock p. m., and 



in the Seasons of active Busi- 
ness, the Sound of the Tackles 
might be heard to a much later 
Hour. Nothing which could 
divert Attention from Business, 
not even a Book, was permitted 
to be in Use about the Stores 
of some of the most Vigilant of 
our early. Merchants. The first 
Settlers were unostentatious 
in their Manners and Dress; 
Simple, Frugal and Regular in 
their Mode of Living. They 
were alive to the Commercial 
Interests of the Village, and 
earnest in advancing its Pros- 
perity. The Navigation of the 
River was improved ; new 
Roads were constructed, and 
Encouragement was extended 
to Men of Enterprise to settle 
here. A generous Emulation 
without Jealousy, prevailed 
among the business Men. They 
supported each other's Credit, 



lieminiscences of Troy. 



27 



TON, an esteemed Minister in the Reformed Dutch 
Church in the City of New York, My Association 
with the Brotliers was constant and familiar. At 
that time Burns was our Delight ; how could it be 
otherwise after reading Tarn O'Shanter, and that 
almost unequalled Production, The Cotter's Satur- 
day Night? Such was the kindred Feeling be- 



and readily united in Measures 
calculated to promote the In- 
terest of the Village. The Im- 
migrations from the Eastern 
States furnished the chief 
Source of its Increase. It is 
difficult now to obtain any ac- 
curate Statement of the pro- 
gressive Increase of the Popu- 
lation during this Period. A 
respectable Lady remembers, 
that during the Prevalence of 
the Small Pox in the Year 1794, 
Dr. Gale and Dr. John Loudon 
ascertained that the Number of 
Inhabitants in the Village, was 
between four and five hundred. 
At the close of the Century, it 
probably amounted to 1100 or 
1200. At that Time Albany 
contained about 6000, and Lan- 



singlurgh about 2000. But 
Troy, although its Population 
was small, had established a 
Reputation which insured its 
future Growth. The Groves 
of Oaks and Pines, which cov- 
ered a large Part of its Site at 
the Beginning of the Decade, 
had been mostly cleared Away, 
and the Orchards which had 
occupied a considerable Space 
in the Vicinity of the Van der- 
Heyden Farm Houses, were re- 
duced to a small Number of 
Trees. The Stores were all on 
River Street, and the Dwellings 
mostly on that and First Street, 
a few on Second Street, and 
still fewer thinly scattered 
along Third, Hill and Division 
Streets. — Judge BueVs Address. 



28 Reminiscences of Troy. 

tween us, although connected with opposite poli- 
tical Parties, when we met, after a considerable 
Absence, it was like the Meeting of Horace with 
his friends, Virgil, Varius and Plotius, in his 
Journey from Rome to Brundusium : more excellent 
Men the Earth never produced, nor any to whom 
I was more sincerely attached. 

The Troy Ticket succeeded, their Member of the 
Senate and Members of the Assembly were elected. 
At the ensuing Session of the Legislature, in the 
City of New York, in January, 1793, the Court 
House was established in Troy. 

The Enthusiasm that prevailed in Favour of 
Troy, which produced a political Triumph, soon 
subsided; the Court House was built ; the Repub- 
lican Party remained in a Minority for the next 
ten Years. 

In the Spring of 1793, the old Party Lines be- 
tween the Federalists and their Opponents being 
established, the former were through the State 
triumphant, and so continued in the County of 
Rensselaer until the Election of 1802, when John 



Reminiscences of Troy. 29 

WooDWORTH^ of Troy, John Ryan ofBoosic, Jonathan 
Rouse of Pittsiown, and Samuel Vary of Stephentown, 
were for the first Time elected Members of the 
Assembly ; Nicholas Staats, the other Candidate, 
having an equal Number of Votes with his Oppo- 
nent, was defeated. 



*JoHN WooDwoRTH was the 
Son of Robert Woodworth, and 
was born on the 12th Day of 
November, 1768, at Schodack, 
Rensselaer County, New York. 
In September, 1784, he entered 
Yale College, graduated in 
September, 1788, and in that 
Year commenced the Study of 
Law, at the City of Albany, 
with John Lansing, Jr., sub- 
sequently Chief Justice and 
Chancellor of the State. In 
July, 1791, ikfr. Woodworth was 
admitted to the Bar; removed 
to Troy, New York, and com- 
menced there the Practice of 
his Profession. In 1792, he 
was appointed by the Judges 
and Supervisors of Rensselaer 
County, one of the New Loan 
Commissioners, for loaning the 
said County Share ($30,000) of 
the State Loan, to the several 



Counties. On the 7th of June, 
1793, he was appointed Surro- 
gate of Rensselaer Coiinty, by 
the Council of Appointment, 
and so continued till his Ap- 
pointment as Attorney-General. , 
On the 6th of November, 1800, 
he was chosen, by the Senate 
and Assembly of New York, 
one of the twelve Electors for 
President (Jefferson) from the 
County of Rensselaer ; in 1803, 
he was a Member of Assembly 
(26th Session) from the same 
County; and from 1804 to 
1807 was elected to the Se- 
nate of the State, from the 
Eastern District. On the 3d 
of February, 1804, he was ap- 
pointed Attorney-General of 
the State, and in 1806 removed 
to Albany. He continued to 
hold the OfiSce of Attorney- 
General until the last of March, 



30 Reminiscences of Troy. 

After the Termination of the Contest for a Court 
House, there was, for a Number of Years, a severe 
Struggle in the County for Political Supremacy. I 
will now advert to Occurrences more immediately 
relating to the Village of Troy. 

In the first Place, the Favourable Location of 



1808. In 1811 he was appoint- 
ed, in Conjunction with William 
P. Van Ness, Reviser of the 
Laws of the State; on the 9th 
of November in the next Year 
^he was chosen by the Senate 
and Assembly, one of the Elect- 
ors for President (Madison), 
and on 3d March, 1813, was 
made a Regent of the Univer- 
sity. In that Year the Revi- 
sion of the Laws of the State, 
known as the Revised Laws of 
1813 (according to the said 
Act of 1811, and another pass- 
ed April 12th, 1813), was pub- 
lished in two Volumes. On the 
2Tth of March, 1819. he was 
appointed a Justice of the Su- 
preme Court of the State of 
New York, in Place of Ambrose 
Spencer, made Chief Justice, 
On the 3l8t day of December, 
1822, his Commission as Just- 



ice expired in Consequence of 
the Constitution of 1821 taking 
Effect from that Day, but ac- 
cording to Article Nine of that 
Constitution, Mr. Woodworth 
continued to hold over; on the 
tth of February, 1823, he was 
again appointed, and continued 
in the Office until November, 
1828, when he resigned under 
the Constitutional Limit (re- 
tained from the Constitution of 
17 It), having arrived at the 
Age of sixty. Judge Wood- 
worth died at Albany, on the 
1st of June, 1858, in the nine- 
tieth Year of his Age; in the 
Enjoyment, to the last, of his 
Faculties, both Physical and 
Mental. He was of large and 
portly Presence, with light 
Eyes and Complexion, and a 
Countenance expressive of 
Cheerfulness and Benignity. 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



31 



- Troy attracted the Attention of our Neighbours in 
Lansinghurgh, not slow to discern the Signs of the 
Times. Although much attached to their early- 
Homes, they saw that this was an inviting Place for 
Removal. They perceived in Perspective, the Rise 

He was very easy of Approach, 
his Manner affable, and Con- 
versation agreeable and fluent. 
Illustrating the Retention of 
his Mental Faculties, the fol- 
lowing are mentioned: In May, 
1856, he delivered a clear and 
cogent Argument before the 
Judges of the Supreme Court 
of the Third Judicial District, in 
a Case of Ejectment, brought 
by the Heirs of French against 
Lent to recover Lands illegally 
confiscated by the State, con- 
trary to the Treaty of Peace of 
1*183; in which Case the Deci- 
sion of the Court was in favour 
of Judge WooDwoRTH. In Sep- 
tember, 185t, he delivered an- 
other Argument on a Mandamus 
against the Comptroller of the 
State, to recover an alleged 
Arrear of Salary due him as 
Judge of the Supreme Court, 
under the Constitution of 1*1*11. 



The Argument was before the 
Special Term of the Court, and 
was succeeded by another, 
upon the same Subject, at the 
General Term in December. In 
these Arguments (which were 
printed in Pamphlet Form) 
Judge WooDWORTH introduced 
Biographical Sketches as well 
as Historical and Personal Re- 
miniscences, interesting not on- 
ly from their intrinsick Worth, 
but from the choice and apt 
Language in which tl\ey were 
clothed. When it is considered 
that these Arguments were 
prepared by a Gentleman in 
his eighty-ninth Year, who was 
Attorney-General of the State 
before the Birth of the Judges 
to whom they were submitted, 
they must be regarded as 
worthy of Record. — Street's 
Council of Revision, 196-198. 



32 Reminiscences of Troy. 

of a great City, and the certain Acquisition of 
Wealth, to be derived from extended Commerce, 
and the Fruits of Industry, proceeding from that 
Source. They determined to emigrate to a Neigh- 
bourhood of Friends, ready to receive them, with- 
out making Inquiry, " Quis novus hie hospes sedibus 
nostisf' 

An Immigration soon commenced on a common 
sense Calculation of improving their Affairs in the 
various Departments of Industry and Enterprise ; 
not like recent Adventurers in their thirst for Gold 
in California ; nor impelled by wild, visionary 
Dreams, like Jason, who departed from Thessaly 
to Colchos, in his Argonautick Expedition, to seize 
and carry away the fabled Golden Fleece, guard- 
ed, it was said to be, by Serpents and wild Bulls, 
vomiting Fire : vain would have been his Efforts, 
without the Assistance of Medea, the King's Daugh- 
ter ; she, falling in love with Jason, and skilled in 
the Knowledge of Poisons and specifick Charms, 
furnished him with all necessary Appliances to 
disperse the Serpents, tame the Bulls, and make 



Reminiscences of Troy. 33 

them submit to the Yoke, and thus enabled him to 
carry away the Prize: the Achievement was 
accomplished by the Power of Woman's Love. 

While I am digressing, I will adduce another 
Instance, demonstrating the Power of Female 
Attachment. I refer to the Queen of Carthage, 
herself driven as an Exile from Tyre, founded an 
Empire so powerful, as, in Process of Time, to 
awaken Roman Jealousy, and gave Rise to the 
Sentiment, " Delenda est Carthago'' Carthage must 
be destroyed. 

jEneas, also an Exile from the Ruins of ancient 
Troy, driven by fierce Winds, " Pervarios Casus, per 
tot discrimina Rerum,'' landed on this hospitable 
Cgast; well skilled, he appears to have been, in 
a Knowledge of the Avenues to the Female Heart. 
At this time the morbid State of the Queen's Mind 
was such that her Affections, long buried in the 
grave of Sicheus, her Husband, had banished all 
Thought of a Second ; such Insanity had this State 
of Mind produced, so firm had been her Resolve, 
that she called down Imprecations on herself if 



34 Reminiscences of Troy. 

ever she violated the plighted Faith that once she 
gave : 

".He who had my Vows shall ever have, 

For whom I loved on Earth, I worship in the Grave." 

Such a State of Mind is to be pitied, not cen- 
sured; Extremes often beget Extremes; so it was 
here ; the subsequent Parts of this Drama exhibit 
a Knowledge of Character, which is delineated by 
a Master Hand. The Queen, in the Language of 
the poet, '^Paulatim abolere Sicheum incipit,''' began 
by little and little to remove Sicheus. It is difficult 
in a Translation of these Words to do Justice to the 
Original, which is so descriptive of that slow and 
gentle Transition, in a morbid State of Mind, from 
the Dead to the Living, and places before us the 
delicate Feelings of the Fair One, who experienced 
this Operation. The Queen, notwithstanding her 
Vows, yielded : 

" The dead was to the living Love resigned. 
And all Mneas enters in her Mind." 

The Tale of Woe related by command, soon 



Reminiscences of Troy. 35 

achieved a Conquest in the pliant Bosom of the 
Queen ; it was calculated to interest every Hearer : 

" Who could such Woes relate without a Tear, 
As stern Ulysses must have wept to hear?" 

The Power of Female Love at once became ap- 
parent ; the Exchange of Vows with the Exile, was 
followed by the Caresses of the love-sick Queen, 
and the Annunciation of a liberal national Senti- 
ment : 

*' Trojans and Tyrians differ but in Name, 
They to my Favour have an equal Claim." 

We in the United States, on a more extended 
Scale, are now carrying out the same Sentiment, 
affording an Asylum to the Oppressed of all Nations, 
permitting them to participate, in common with 
ourselves, the Blessings of rational Liberty. The 
perfidious Lover left her to experience " the Pangs 
of despised Love," operating on her proud Spirit, 
and terminating in Death. 

A Retribution awaited tlie Seducer ; in his De- 
scent to the fabled Regions below, passing through 



36 Reminiscences of Troy. 

the Elysian Fields, he espied the sullen Shade of 
the Queen : " Fresh from her Wound, her Bosom 
bathed in Blood." Then for the first Time, " Fierce 
Repentance reared her Crest;" Prayers and Tears 
availed not ; they were met by a Look of Disdain, 
an indignant Frown, and a Countenance averted, 
to shun his hateful Sight, followed by her imme- 
diate Disappearance in the Shades of Night : " The 
ruling Passion strong in Death ; " Resentment in 
the sensitive Bosom of a Woman scorned. Remorse 
doubtless performed its Office on the Seducer. 

After this Digression I resume the Narrative. 
There was a healthful Accession of Numbers from 
Lansingburgh ; there came the firm of George^ & 

» George and Benjamin Tib- self in Trade, admitted his 

BITS were the Sons of John Brother Benjamin as a Partner. 

TiBBiTS, who removed from In 1Y91 the Brothers removed 

Warwick, R. I.,to Lansingburgh, to Troy, where they continued 

with his Family, soon after the in Business until the Dissolu- 

Close of the Revolutionary tion of the Firm by the Death 

War. George was born 14th of the younger Partner; after 

Jan., 1163; and married Sarah which it was continued by 

NoYEs, -8th March, 1189. He George alone. He was one of 

opened a Store at the JVew the Fathers of the Farmers* 

City, as it was then called, Bank, of which he was a Direc- 

and having established him- tor more than forty Years; a 



Reminiscences of Troy. 37 

Benjamin Tibbits, Men of Wealth and Integrity, 
well qualified to conduct Commercial Operations 
on an extended Scale. Next came the Firm of 



Member of the Eighth Con- 
gress, from 1803 to 1805; of 
the State Senate from 1815 to 
1818; and of the Assembly for 
the Years 1800 and 1820; was 
several Years Mayor of the 
City, and forty-four Years, and 
until his Death, an Officer of 
St. Paul's Church ; all of which 
Offices of high Trust he dis- 
charged with great Ability and 
Fidelity, and to the Satisfac- 
tion of his Constituency. He 
was among the first Advocates 
of the Project of uniting the 
great Western and Northern 
Lakes with the Atlantick Ocean, 
and lived to see many of his 
own Plans on this Subject 
adopted, among which was the 
Canal Fund Law of the State, 
which differed from that pro- 
posed by Mr. Clinton, in mak- 
ing the Fund depend upon other 
Means than the State Credit. 
He died 19 July, 1849, aged 
86. " He was familiar," says 
the Editor of the Troy Daily 



Budget, " with the History of 
" every Measure that had been 
" adopted or contemplated for 
" the Advancement of the In- 
" terests of the City, as well 
" as with those that had been 
" attempted by rival Interests 
" to retard our Prosperity or 
" paralyze our natural Advan- 
" tages; and whenever this 
" Knowledge was required, he 
" was a living Encyclopedia, 
" from which could be drawn 
" reliable Historick Events, 
" which he could embody in a 
" Form, with a Directness of 
" Purpose and Power of Ar- 
" rangement, beyond any other 
" of our Citizens." By close 
Application to Business, and 
that Enterprise and Intelli- 
gence, for which he was dis- 
tinguished, he acquired a large 
Fortune, and at the Time of his 
Death, was the most wealthy 
Man in the City. Benjamin was 
born about 1765, and died 11th 
Sept., 1802. 



38 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



Aaron & Dirck Lane;^° the Latter had served with 
Reputation in the Army of the Revolution, and 
after the Lapse of forty Years, had the Happiness of 
receiving, at the River Bank, on a visit from Albany 
to Troy, in 1826, Marquis La/ayette, his old Com- 



^ ^ Derick Lane was the Son 
of Matthias Lane, of Bedmin- 
ster, N. J., and was born 30 
April, 1155; married 1, Maria 
Lansing, 26 Jan. 1189; 2, An- 
gelica Van Rensselaer, 14 July, 
1805. On the breaking out of 
the Revolution enlisted in the 
Service of his Country ; 5th 
July, 1116, was appointed 2d 
Lieutenant in Capt. Stiles's 
Company, of Col. Johnson's 
Regiment; 1 Jan. 1111, was 
commissioned 2d Lieutenant in 
the Second New Jersey Regi- 
ment, under CoL Israel Shreve, 
and in 1119 was appointed to 
do the additional Duty of Re- 
gimental Quarter Master in the 
same Regiment; 12 March, 
1119, was promoted to be 1st 
Lieutenant; 3 June, 1183, was 
promoted to be Captain, to take 
Rank from 11 Feb. 1182, and 
continued doing Duty in his 
Regiment until it was reduced 



to a Battalion, when he became 
a supernumerary Captain, and 
retired; having been in the 
Service more than six Years. 
During the War he was in the 
following Battles, viz: Long 
Island, White Plains, Ash 
Swamp, or Short Hills, Scotch 
Plains, Springfield, Head of 
Elk Lt. Infantry, Iron Hill, or 
Couch's Mills, Brandywine, 
Haddlesfield, Monmouth, Che- 
mung, Newton, Yorktown, be- 
sides a Number of Skirmishes 
and Conflicts of less Notoriety. 
He was a Member of the Cin- 
cinnati. As a Merchant he 
was noted for his sterling In- 
tegrity and Fair-dealing; was 
for several Years Loan Com- 
missioner for the County of 
Rensselaer, and was a Member 
of the Assembly in 1808 and 
1809. He died 26 March, 1831. 
Aaron was born 11 April, 1155, 
and died 12 Nov., 1823. 



Reminiscences of Troy. 39 

panion in Arms, and by his Side conducting him to 
the House of Reception. Not long after, immigrated 
the Firm of Redfield & Bradly, who by honourable 
Industry had acquired considerable Wealth ; also 
the Hon. John D. Dickenson, for a long time Pre- 
sident of the Farmers' Bank, a Lawyer of Learning, 
of sound Judgment, extensive Practice ; his House 
was the Seat of Hospitality, graced by an ac- 
complished Wife, who made every Visitor feel 
himself at Home, in their splendid Mansion. 

The Times now under Consideration, say from 
1792 to 1802, were memorable for the Asperity and 
Violence of Political Parties; perhaps no County in 
the State, could in this Respect, claim Precedence 
over the County of Rensselaer; it was strikingly 
apparent at every Election ; not satisfied with dis- 
cussing the Principles which divided the Federal 
and Republican Parties, and the Merits of the re- 
spective Candidates, low personal Abuse, and libel- 
lous Writings were employed to villify Individuals, 
who advocated Candidates put in Nomination by 
the latter Party. Let it, however, be understood, 



40 Reminiscences of Troy. 

that in these Remarks, I have no Reference to the 
respectable Gentlemen before named, who emi- 
grated from Lansingburgh to Troy ; all of whom 
were Federalists ; nor to other honourable Men of 
the same Party who were among the original In- 
habitants of the Village of Troy ; nor do they apply 
to prominent Men of the Republican Party, residing 
in the Village, who always discountenanced such 
Proceedings. At this Time a Spirit of Intolerance 
existed, beyond the Controul of sober Men, of either 
Party ; there were more than ordinary Causes for 
this ; the Influence of the French Revolution upon 
the People of this Country was great; the Annun- 
ciation of Liberty restored in France, after a dark 
Night of Centuries, gave an Impulse, that caused 
a Delirium in the publick Mind, especially among 
the Masses. It was enough that the Chain was 
broken, and the Baslile destroyed; the Marsellais 
Hymn and Ca ira, were chaunted in our Streets ; 
scarce a Thought occurred, whether here were Ma- 
terials to lay the Foundation of Rational Liberty ; 
whether the French Character, at all Times easily 



Reminiscences of Troy. 41 

excited, light, frivolous and changeable, ignorant 
of the first Principles of Free Government, did not 
require a long Training, to prevent its Termination 
in Anarchy, or a Despotism more oppressive, than 
that from which they had escaped : many in the 
Ardour of their Feelings, were ready to suspect 
some of the best Friends of Liberty, if they ex- 
pressed Fears of the Final Result. An Individual 
who was not prepared to hurra for the French, 
would have but little Influence at Elections with a 
Portion of the Republican Party; on the other 
Hand, the prevailing Temper of the Federal Party 
was, to stigmatize their Opponents, as French 
Jacobins, ready to approve the Atrocities of the 
French Revolution, then apparent : in this State of 
Things, Truth requires the Admission, that the 
Republican Party was more infected with the 
Mania of wild French Democracy, than their Op- 
ponents. 

The Federalists having the Power of the State in 
their Hands, were rather intolerant in the Exercise 
of that Power; this at Times produced much Irri- 



42 Eemimscefices of Troy. 

tation ; Instances might be given, but let them now 
be forgotten. To the Preceding may be added, 
that the Federal Party, having been in Favour of 
the Adoption of the Constitution of the United States 
and the Republican Party generally opposed to its 
Adoption without certain Admendments, and in 
Consequence called Anti-Federalist; there were 
Feelings of Alienation on that Ground, and Preju- 
dices which had not been removed. There were 
also minor Causes mingling with Political Hostility. 
The Inhabitants of Lansingbvrgh were chiefly 
Federalists ; the Loss of the Court House by a Re- 
publican Legislature elected in 1792, was a Source 
of wounded Pride ; there was also much personal 
Hostility between Individuals, arising from real or 
imaginary Wrongs. These gave Keenness to the 
Edge of Political Warfare. Much of this may be 
ascribed to the Temperament of two or three Indi- 
viduals, and a few congenial Spirits under their 
Controul, having some Pretension to Talent, who 
lent their Aid in the work of written Slander. 
Members of the Republican Party were not to 



Reminiscences of Troy. 43 

my Knowledge or belief Aggressors in libellous 
Publications, but acted on the Defensive. It m ay- 
seem passing Strange that such a State of Things 
existed; it is nevertheless True. I might give you 
Specimens of the Publications referred to, outrag- 
ing all Decency ;" but let them be forever buried in 
Oblivion. They are only mentioned for the Pur- 
pose of adverting to the salutary Change that has 
taken Place. Parties can now differ, and agree to 
diifei^ without personal Rancour or Abuse. The 
Asperity of Party is greatly diminished ; Men of op- 
posite Sentiments on Political Subjects can mingle 
together in all the Relations of Life, and generally 
with Cordiality and Good-will. To any one who 

11 This State of Things grew $800 and Costs. The Parties 
no better as Time wore on, for were known about this Time 
some Years later most of the as Federalists, Anti-Federal- 
Printers in the State, and not ists or Clintonians, and Lew- 
a few of the Lawyers, were un- isites. Of the former there 
der Prosecution for Libel. In were 16 Papers in the State, 
1809 Wright of the Gazette among which was the Troy 
sued Adancourt of the Register; Gazette; of the second there 
at the Trial the Inuendos were were 15, including the Farm- 
made out by RcGGLEs Hubbard; ers* Register; of the third, 9. 
a Defence was attempted, but The iVbr^Aerw ^wJ^ei was placed 
the Jury returned a Verdict of among the undecided. 



44 Reminiscences of Troy. 

denies this Change, I reply in the Words of Solo- 
mon : " Say not thou, what is the Cause that the 
former Days were better than these? for thou dost 
not inquire wisely concerning this." 

The preceding political Remarks will be consi- 
dered as applying to the State of Things from 1791 
to 1806, when I removed from Troy to Albany. 

A few Words more immediately relating to the 
Village of Troy. There was from its Commence- 
ment, a Spirit of Enterprise and Industry appa/ent ; 
its Location at the Head of sloop Navigation, in- 
spired Confidence in the belief of advancing Pros- 
perity ;^^ there was no Despondency ; no one seemed 

^ ^ In Corroboration of which, American Spy. Robert Moffit 

and as accessory to this State also began the Publication of 

of Things, it maybe mentioned the Northern Budget in Lansing- 

that in August, 1800, a Sub- hurgh in 1797, and in 1798, 

scription Library was set on Francis Adancourt commenced 

Foot, in the Organization of his Farmers' Register there, both 

which Mr. Woodworth was an of which were removed to Troy 

active Agent. The Writer has a few Years after. Thus it will 

also neglected to mention the be seen that Lansinghurgh was 

Press. A paper was printed a highly favoured Place, so far 

in Lansinghurgh in 1787, called as the Light of the Press could 

the Northern Centitiel, and make it so. We can not as- 

another in 1791, called the certain the exact Year when 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



45 



to entertain Doubts respecting the Future. Early 
Attention was called to improve the Navigation 
between Troy and Albany ; full Employment was 
given to a Number of Vessels navigating between 



Printing was introduced into 
Troy. John Griffiths publish- 
ed a Pamphlet entitled A Col- 
lection of the Newest Cotillions 
and Country Dances, principally 
composed by J. G., Dancing 
Master, to which is added In- 
stances of III Manners to be 
carefully avoided by Youth of 
both Sexes, small 4to, pp. 15. 
The Name of the Printer is not 
given, but the Imprint reads 
thus: "Printed and Sold at 
Troy, State of New York, Price 
One Shilling." The Date, 1795, 
is added with a Pen, and may 
therefore be considered some- 
what Apocryphal. Mr. Wil- 
liam GowANs of New York, who 
possesses the only Copj' of 
this Work known to exist, 
says: " This is the first Treat- 
" ise on Dancing that has been 
" printed and published in the 
"United States. It is quite a 
" shabby Pamphlet both as to 
"Typography and Paper. It 



"proves two Things, namely: 
" that Printing was carried 
"on at this early Day in 
"the then Village of Troy, 
" probably then numbering but 
"a few hundreds of Inhabit- 
"ants, now numbering 36,000; 
" and that Dancing must have 
" then been a popular Amuse- 
" ment, for the Village contain- 
" ed not only a Teacher of that 
" Art, but produced a Treatise 
" on the Subject, which it may 
"be safely asserted that no 
" other City, Town or Village in 
"the U7iited States had done." 
In 1797, however, we know 
that a Paper was printed in 
Troy, weekly, by Luther Pratt, 
called The Farmer's Oracle. In 
May, 1798, Robert Moffit & 
Co, removed their Printing 
Office from Lansinglurgh, and 
the 48th Number of the North- 
ern Budget was the first issued 
in Troy. The Head was adorn- 
ed with a Wood Engraving, 



46 Reminiscences of Troy. 

Troy and New York. The Carrying Trade was Lu- 
crative. Troy was a great Market in the Winter 
Season for the Purchase of Wheat and other Grain, 
coming from the West, the North, and the State 
of Vermont ; the Hum of Business was everywhere 



representing Franklin reading 
the Constitution, and this Motto: 
" Where Liberty dwells, there 
is my Country." The Publish- 
ers announced that the weekly 
Expenses of the Budget, al- 
though an Infant Establish- 
ment, was already, at a moder- 
ate Calculation, thirty Dollars 1 
It was a well conducted News- 
paper, the Editor taking no 
Side "in Politicks. Mr. Moffit 
died in 1807, aged 34. Several 
Years before this, namely, in 
1793, the first Paper Mill north 
of the Highlands, if not the first 
in the State of New York, was 
built in Troy, by Websters, 
Ensign & Seymour. The near- 
est Paper Mill was at Benning- 
ton, which, failing to supply the 
Demand, Paper was sometimes 
brought from Hartford, Conn., 
on Horseback, When the Pa- 
per Mill went into Operation, an 



earnest Appeal was made to the 
Patriotism of the Ladies, who 
were invoked to aid Domestick 
Manufactures by the Preserva- 
tion of Rags. They were in- 
vited to visit the Mill, and be- 
sought earnestly to patronize 
the Saving of all Kinds of 
linen and cotton Rags, for 
which would be paid at the. 
Mill Zd for clean white, blue, 
brown and check. Mr, Buel, 
the Post Master, also made a 
patriotick Appeal to the Ladies 
in the same Behalf, offering to 
receive them at his Store. The 
first Bookstore was opened by 
Thomas, Andrews & Penniman, 
in IT 90, although several of 
the Merchants were dealing in 
Books in a small Way, which 
were strangely intermixed in 
their Advertisements with other 
Commodities. 



Reminiscences of Troy. 47 

visible ; Mechanicks had fall Employment ; Build- 
ings were rapidly on the Increase ; large Stores 
were erected ; and extensive Commerce carried 
on in various Parts of the State. There was at 
that early Day, and what has distinguished Troy 
in all its Progress, and so Conducive to its Pros- 
perity, a Concert of Action; a Concentration of 
Sentiment, and united Efforts on all Questions, re- 
lating to the Interest of the Village. ^^ To all these, 
political Questions held a secondary Place ; there 



13 The Editor of the Northern 
Budget stated in his Paper of 
Dec. 17, 1800, that "To exhibit 
some Idea of the Rapidity of 
our Growth, it will be sufficient 
to observe, that fifteen years 
ago, there were in this Village, 
now comprising somewhat 
more than a Mile Square, but 
two Dwelling-houses, and pro- 
bably not more then fifteen 
Inhabitants; and that at the 
present Time, it contains 
about 300 Dwelling houses, in- 
dependent of Stores, &c., and 
1802 Inhabitants. A Popula- 
tion so rapid has, we believe, 



but seldom been witnessed in 
the United States." The Census 
of 1800 showed a Population 
in the Town of Troy of 4,926. 
The Vote for Governor was 
226 for Stephen Van Rensse- 
laer, 115 for Clinton. The 
Table made up by the Commis- 
sioners of Taxes, Dec, 1*799, 
shows the Population and tax- 
able Wealth of the Town : No. 
Taxable Persons, 659; Amt. 
Taxable Property, $854,988; 
Tax, $854.29. In those Days, 
a Property Qualification was 
necessary to entitle a Citizen 
to a Vote. 



48 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



was also a large Proportion of practical Business 
Men of good Sense, and industrious Habits, well 
fitted for the Position in which they were placed ; 
Capital in a short time became Abundant, although 
but little at the Commencement ; the rapid Acqui- 
sition of Wealth by regular Business, soon furnished 
an ample Supply. Of the original Inhabitants, and 
those who carne shortly after them, a Number are 
within my Recollection. 

Dr. Samuel Gale^^ came to Troy about 1789, 



^* Samuel Gale was the fifth 
Son of John Gale, and was 
born at Goshen, Orange County, 
N. Y., 3 March, 1743; married 
the Daughter of Dr. Benjamin 
Gale, of Killingworth, Conn., 
4 Sept., 1768, and resided in 
the latter Place until 1787. In 
1786 he passed through this 
Place on his Way to New City, 
with the View of settling there, 
if he should be satisfied with 
its Location, and the Prospects 
it afforded for the Practice of 
his Profession. It is supposed 
that he was favourably im- 
pressed on both these Points, 



and that he at that Time, or 
soon after, negotiated for a 
House, into which he was to 
remove at some subsequent 
Period. In the latter Part of 
1787, he, with his whole Fami- 
ly, started from Killingworth for 
New City, and took Passage in 
a Sloop, carrying with him his 
Goods, Furniture and Medi- 
cines. Owing to adverse 
Winds, three Weeks were con- 
sumed in the Voyage, and on 
reaching Troy on the 1 Sept., 
Dr. Gale concluded to remain 
there a Day. He proceeded by 
land to New City, and there 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



49 



from Killingworth, in Connecticut ; his Family con- 
sisted of a Wife, Daughter and four Sons, Benjamin, 
John, Samuel and William ; he erected a Dwelling- 
House and Store adjoining the Upper Ferry. The 
Doctor practiced Medicine a Number of Years, 
and died in 1797. He was much respected as a 



learned that the Man with 
whom he had made the Engage- 
ment for a House, and who re- 
sided in New York, had not 
been definitely apprised of the 
Doctor's Intention concerning 
the House, and had rented it 
to another. Returning to Troy, 
where he had already formed 
the Acquaintance of Jacob D. 
Van der Heyden, the Patroon, 
he was induced to remain by 
the latter, who offered him half 
of his own House until one 
could be erected. He immedi- 
ately commenced the Building 
of a double frame House on 
the west Side of River Street, 
about fifty Feet south of Ferry, 
which was completed in 1*188, 
and which he occupied during 
his Life-time, and where he 
continued the Practice of his 
Profession until his Death, 
1 



which occurred in January, 
1799. His Children were Ben- 
jamin, John, Samuel, William, 
TowNSEND, and Sabah. The 
first four were favourably 
known as Merchants, in the 
early History of Troy; Samuel 
was Postmaster from 1804 to 
1828. Sarah, who is now the 
oldest Resident of the City, 
still lives at No. 119 First 
Street, where she has resided 
since 1199. She remembers the 
Retinue of Negroes which were 
in the Service of the Patroon, 
and also the Indian Visitors 
that often came to his House 
in Companies of ten, fifteen, 
and twenty, and who, after eat- 
ing and drinking to Repletion, 
would fall asleep on the Kitch- 
en Floor, and snore till Day- 
break. 



50 Reminiscences of Troy, 

Man and Physician. His Son Samuel was also 
bred a Physician, but generally employed as a 
Druggist ; he built a Store-house on the west Side 
of River Street, in which he carried on successful 
Business a Number of Years ; he was appointed 
Post-master during Mr. Madison's Administration, 
about 1812; if I mistake not, he was the Successor 
of RuGGLES Hubbard. ^^ 



^ ^ There was a Compact be- 
tween RuGGLEs Hubbard and 
Benjamin Gorton, who wished 
to succeed the former in the 
Post Office, that they should 
assist each other in obtaining 
Office. Mr. Gorton's Word 
being as good as his Bond, he 
kept his Engagement, laboured 
assiduously for his Friend, visit- 
ed Poughkeepsie and obtained 
of the Council of Appointment 
the Office of County Clerk for 
Mr. Hubbard, and rested from 
his Labours with Satisfaction. 
He was, however, doomed to 
Disappointment in regard to 
the Place he expected in re- 
turn. In the bitterness of his 
Grief, he called upon the new 
County Clerk, reminded him of 
the Engagement between them, 



the success of his own Eiforts, 
and the Faithlessness of Hub- 
bard. The Official endeavoured 
to exculpate himself, by saying 
that the Result was beyond his 
Controul. Gorton proposed to 
compound the Matter for two 
hundred Pounds, claiming that 
amount as due him in Justice; 
but Hubbard contended that 
two hundred Pounds was a 
large sum of Money, and could 
not be persuaded to pay it over. 
Mr. Gorton thereupon put the 
Case on a different Footing, 
and asserted that if the Claim 
■was not adjusted then, it would 
most assuredly stand against 
him in another World; where- 
upon Hubbard closed with him 
by accenting the longest Credit ! 



Reminiscences of Troy. 51 

The Post Office was first established in 1793 or 
1794; I speak from Memory, and think I am not 
mistaken. John Woodworth was the first Post- 
master; he held the Office until 1798 or 1799.'" 
His Successor was Mr. Buel, a Gentleman of re- 
spectable Character, Father of the Hon. Judge 
Buel, of Troy, a distinguished Counsellor at Law in 
the Supreme Court of this State. After the Acces- 
sion of Mr. Jefferson as President, my Impression 
is that Ruggles Hubbard was appointed the Suc- 
cessor of Mr. Buel, and so continued until the 
Appointment of Dr. Gale. 

The Firm composed of Abraham Ten Eyck, Albert 
Pawling & Conrad J. Elmendorf, built and occupied 
a Store, now standing on the west Side of River 
Street. They were regular Merchants, of strict 
Integrity, doing a respectable Share of Business. 

^^ Mr. Woodworth was sue- had Charge of it, he received a 

ceeded in July, 1800, by David letter addressed to John Rider, 

Buel. This Post Office was at Bushingkill County, , State of 

that era the Depot for a bound- Albany. It was common to 

less Contiguity of Towns, and receive Letters addressed to 

of Places not known on the Adams in Massachusetts, Scho- 

Map. While Mr. Woodworth harie, and in short every Place 



52 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



Daniel & Isaac Merrit occupied a Store on the 
west Side of River Street, near the Location of the 
present Troy House. They were Men of great In- 
dustry, and upright in all their Dealings. I was 
intimately acquainted with Daniel ; in his Manners 
with <a Name, north, east, and NEWS! NEWS' 

west. These Letters were pro- ty.»>^^^tv^^a ! k>xM»jm«A^sna ^ 
cured by distant Persons, thro' 
the Newspaper Post Riders. 
The Publishers of the Albany 
Gazette established a Line to 
Niagara, and were so obliging 
as to deliver Letters through 
their Post Riders to all Places 
where there were no Mails, 
without Charge. These Mes- 
sengers traversed the Country, 
which was then in a compara- 
tively wilderness State, in eve- 
ry Direction, on Horseback, and 
meeting at stated Points, inter- 
changed Letters and Papers; 
and in some Cases, where the 
Business was not sufficient to 
support them, Subscriptions 
were raised for the Purpose 
among Merchants and others 
interested in their Continuance. 
A Post Rider's Advertisement is 
introduced in Facsimile from 
the Budget : 




LIVE!!, Puft-Rider, 



TTyiSHES to inform the Publick, 
^ ^ that he has extended his Route; 
and that he now rides thro' the 
Towns of Troj, Pittjlown, Hoofick, 
Mapletown, Part of Bennington, and 
Shaftjbury, Peterjburgh, Stephen- 
town, Greenbujh and Schodack. 

All Commands in his Line will be 
received with Thanks, and executed 
with Punftuality. 

He returns his fmcere Thanks to 
his former Cuftomers ; and intends, 
by unabated Diligence, to merit a 
Continuance of their Favours. 

O'er ruggid kills, and •vallies -wide. 
He never yet hasfaiPd to trudge it; 

As Jieady as the fioiv'ing tide, 

He hands about the Northern Budget. 

June 1 8, 1799. 



Reminiscences of Troy. 58 

kind and gentle ; he was a Member of the Society 
of Friends, and a fair Representative of that highly 
respectable Religious Sect ; always ready to ad- 
vance the Cause of Benevolence. Among the dis- 
tinguished Members of that Society in England^ 
who can forget the Name of that incomparable 
Woman, Elizabeth Fry, who, by her Labours in the 
Cause of Reform, in Cases almost hopeles;§, shed a 
Lustre and Fragrance on Female Character; her 
Name is " as Ointment poured forth ; " not unlike 
that shed on the other Sex, by the benevolent 
Howard, who traveled far and wide, seeking the 
Haunts of those who "pine in Want and dungeon 
Glooms, shut out from the common Use of Air, 
and common Use of their own Limbs," taking the 
Dimensions of human Suffering in Prisons and 
Hospitals, amidst Infection, Pestilence and Death. 
Col. Albert Pawling,^'^ already mentioned, claims 

*'' Albert Pawling was a N a- Army in HIS as 2d Lieuten- 

tive of Duchess or Ulster Coun- ant in the Regiment command- 

ty, and the Son of Col. Levi ed by Col. James Clinton, and 

Pawling, an efficient Officer of marched with him into Canada. 

the Revolution. He joined the The Regiment crossed the Ri- 



54 Reminiscences of Troy. 

particular Notice. He was one of the earliest 
Inhabitants; he had been well educated at an 
Academy in Kingston ; when quite a young Man, 
he joined as an Officer, the army under Gen. 



ver at the Vanderheyden Ferry, 
and took the Road which pass- 
ed northward through the 
Farm on which the City is 
built. There were but two 
Houses on the Ground at that 
Time, both of which are still 
standing ; one on River and 
Division Streets, and the other 
on River above Hoosick Street. 
The Road was then on the east 
Side of the latter. He served 
in the Northern Array under 
Montgomery, and returned with 
that unsuccessful Expedition, 
in 17 1 6. In the latter Year he 
was appointed Brigade Major 
under Gen. George CLiNTo>f, 
and served as such until the 
Summer of 171*7, when he was 
promoted to be; Major in one 
of the sixteen additional Regl- 
giments commanded by Col. 
William Malcom, probably at 
the suggestion of Gen. Heath, 
in the following Letter to Gen. 
Clinton : " I flatter myself that 



" you will not take it amiss if I 
" should hint a Wish that you 
" would take Notice of an Offi- 
" cer who, I think, has done 
" Honour to himself, to you, 
" Sir, and the State to which 
" he belongs, and great Service 
" to the Publick ; I mean your 
" Brigade Major, Pawling. His 
" Modesty, Integrity, Assiduity 
" in Duty, and Spirit, so often 
" discovered in my own Pre- 
" sence, compel me, from a real 
" Regard to a good and faith- 
" ful Officer, and the publick 
" Cause, which stands in need 
"of such Gentlemen, to wish 
"his Promotion," &c. It ap- 
pears by the New York Ballot- 
ing Book, that he resigned the 
Office of Major in 1779, not- 
withstanding the Request of 
Washington expressed in the 
following Letter, the original 
of which is in the Library of 
the Troy Young Men's Associa- 
tion : 



Reminiscences of Troy. 55 

Montgomery, was engaged in the disastrous Battle 
before Quebeck's beleaguered Walls, on the memor- 
able Night of December 31, 1775. He possessed 
all the Elements to become a fearless Soldier: "in 



" Head Quarters, Middlebrook, 

"2d March, 1779. 
" Sir : 

" In your Letter of the 25th 
" ult., you seem to have mis- 
" conceived the Intention of 
" Congress, upon which is 
"founded your Application for 
" Leave to Resign. It is not 
"their Purpose to reduce Col. 
" Malcom's Regiment. This will 
"be incorporated with Col. 
" Spencer's ; and as you are 
" the only Major in the two 
"Regiments, of Course you 
" will be continued. After con- 
" sidering the just Claims 
" which the Country have on 
" good Oflficers, I am persuaded 
"you will suspend your Appli- 
" cation. 

" I am, Sir, 

" your most h'ble servt. 

" G°. Washington. 
" Major Paulding." 

It is stated that he was com- 
missioned Colonel of a Regi- 



ment of Swiss, raised for the 
Defence of the Frontiers of the 
State of New York, in which 
Office he continued until the 
close of the War. During the 
War he was in several im- 
portant Engagements, among 
which is mentioned the Taking 
of St. John's, the Storming of 
Quebeck, the Battle of White 
Plains, and of Monmouth. On 
retiring from the Service, he 
turned his Attention to Mer- 
chandise, and was an early 
Settler in Troi/, where he had 
resided nearly fifty Years. 
He died on the 10th Nov., 
1837, aged 88. His Funeral 
was attended by the Military 
of Albany and Troy, and the 
largest Concourse that had 
ever been seen in Troy fol- 
lowed him to the Grave. No- 
tices of him were published in 
the Troy Daily Whig of Nov. 
11, and Troy Morning Mail of 
Nov, 17, 1837. 



56 Bemintscences of Troy, 

Battle courageous, the Heart of a Lyon;" "mild 
with the Mild, but with the Froward he was fierce 
as Fire." I never knew a Man having higher 
Notions of Honour and Integrity. He has often 
related to me the stirring Scenes preceding and 
attending the Battle, and the subsequent Gloom 
and Foreboding that pervaded the Country. In 
recurring to these Events, "he would shake his 
Years away, and all the live-long Day discourse of 
War." He was always a firm Supporter of the 
Republican Party, but no Slanderer or Persecuter of 
those who differed from him on political Questions ; 
always a pleasant Companion, and sincere in his 
Professions of Friendship. 

It so happened that in September, 1792, shortly 
after my Admisson to the Bar, I came to Albany, 
and dined at the excellent Tavern kept by Robert 
Lewis,^^ who, among Inn-keepers, was considered 

^* Robert Lewis died llth opened by Ananias Platt, the 

June, 1798, aged 73. His great Publick House of the 

House was the Cz7y Tarerw, on Day. It had been the City 

the south-east Corner of what Residence of Madam Schuyler, 

is now State and Pearl Streets; and was removed to widen the 

then, and until the Tontine was Street, which until that Time 



Reminiscences of Troy. 57 

"princeps inter pares y Col. Donald Campbell," long 
since deceased, lodged at this House. I met him 
at Dinner ; he had been an Officer in the Army of 
the Revolution, and engaged in the Storming of 
Quebeck ; was by the Side of Montgomery when he 
fell. CgL Campbell had also been an Officer in the 
British Army before our Revolution. In the Course 
of Conversation he stated the following Facts, 
which I presume will not be considered out of Place 
in this Communication. He was in the Battle with 
the French, on the Plains of Abraham, before Que- 
beck, when Gen. Wolfe, the Commander, fell. It 
was on that Day, just 33 Years since, Wolfe was 

was a narrow arched Passage- panied the Army to Canada. 
way, having a Gate to protect Amid the Disasters of that 
the Entrance into the Road be- Campaign he became obnox- 
low, called Washington Street, ious to Charges of Cowardice 
which skirted the west Side of in a too hasty Departure; was 
what was called the Plain. He tried by Court Martial at Crown 
afterwards occupied the Pre- Point in July, 1TT6, and dis- 
mises No. 18 State Street. missed the Service with some 
^» Donald Campbell was ap- Harshness. His Case was re- 
pointed Deputy Quarter Master ferred to Congress, who on the 
General of the New York Depart- l^th Jan., Itn, acquitted him, 
raent, with the Rank of Colonel, ^nd he was continued in Pay 
15th July, mS, and accom- and Rank. 



58 Eeminiscences of Tro^. 

mortally wounded ; he was one of the Persons who 
assisted in supporting him on the Field of Battle; 
that shortly before he expired rallying himself in- 
quired, " How goes the Battle ? " He was told the 
French were running ; Wolfe then exclaimed, " I 
die with Pleasure." He further observed, that these 
Words had been inserted correctly, in various 
Publications in England. I find on the Authority 
of History that this Battle was fought on the 13th 
of September, 1759; it was just 33 Years to Sep- 
tember 13, 1792; I know that this Conversation 
took place in the Month of September of that Year ; 
it is probable Col. Campbell was correct as to the 
Day. Gen. Wolfe, although a young Man, had be- 
come a great Favourite in England ; he distinguish- 
ed himself before he was twenty and increased his 
Reputation so much at Minden and Louisbourg, that 
Pitt selected him to command the Expedition 
against Quebeck. He overcame all Obstacles, 
scaled the Heights of Abraham, and compelled the 
Enemy to risk the Province on the issue of a Battle, 
which terminated French Rule in Canada. 



Reminiscences of Troy. 59 

The preceding Information was too interesting 
to be forgotten. In the Loss of Wolfe, there ap- 
pears to have been much real Grief, arising not 
merely from his splendid Talents as a General, but 
combined with sincere Affection, entertained for 
his interesting personal Qualities. Mrs. Elizabeth 
Montague, an eminent Female Writer, whose Let- 
ters in three Volumes, were published after* her 
Death, in one of them to Lord Littleton, dated Oct. 
23, 1759, contains the following : '* the Encomi- 
ums on Wolfe run very high ; a great Action is 
performed, and Envy can endure to give Praise to 
a Dead Man ; there was Something very captivat- 
ing in his Character ; he took the Publick Opinion 
by a Coup de Main, to which it surrendered more 
willingly than to a regular Seige ; the People had 
not Time to be tired of hearing him called the 
Brave ; he is the Subject of all People's Praise, and 
I question whether all the Duke of Marlborough's 
Conquests gained him greater Honour." There 
were several fugitive Pieces written on the Occa- 
sion in England, but whether accessible at the 



60 Reminiscences of Troy. 

present Time, I know not. There is one, how- 
ever, preserved, written by Thomas Paine; the 
following are the two first Stanzas : 

" In a mouldering Cave, where the Wretched retreat, 

Britannia sat wasted with Care, 
She mourn'd for her Wolfe, then exclaim'd against Fate, 

And gave herself up to Despair. 

" The Walls of her Cell she had sculptured around, 

Wit];i the Feats of her favourite Son, 
And even the Dust, as it lay on the Ground, 

Was engraved with some Deeds he had done." 

The residue is Poetry of a high Order ; but equal- 
ed by the Lines written by the Rev. John Wolfe, 
describing the Interment of Sir John Moore, slain 
in a Battle with the French at Corunna in Spain. 
The following is the first Stanza : 

"Not a Drum was heard, nor a funeral Note, 
As his Corse to the Rampart we hurried. 

No Soldier discharged his farewell Shot, 
O'er the Grave where our Hero we buried." 

From my earliest Reading, the Death of Mont- 



Reminiscences of Troy. 61 

GOMERY, was in my Mind associated with the Death 
of Wolfe; they both fell on the same Field, seven- 
teen Years Apart ; the Latter at the Age of thirty- 
three Years the Former thirty-seven ; both having 
Anglo-Saxon Blood in their Veins, and Children of 
the same Parent; both in the Spirit of Chivalry and 
Patriotism, like Leonidas's Band, offering their 
Lives in the Service of their Country. Admiration 
has always attended the Mention of their Names, 
and touched the Chord where Affection dwells. 

After this Digression, I further state that Col. 
Pawling was always among the Foremost in pro- 
moting the Interests of the Village ; untiring in his 
Exertions to procure Funds to build the Court 
House ; liberal in Contributions to erect the First 
Presbyterian Church, the Settlement of a Pastor, 
and always the Advocate of a high Standard of 
Morals. 

Not long after the Settlement commenced, came 
from Newport, Rhode Island, Mr. Stevenson and 
Family, a Wife and four Children ; all intelligent, 
well-educated, and of polished Manners; at all 



62 Reminiscences of Troy. 

Times an Acquisition, and especially in the Infancy 
of a Settlement ; the eldest Daughter became the 
Wife of Hugh Peebles, the highly respected Cashier 
of the Farmers' Bank,^^ incorporated in 1800; after 
her Death Mr. Peebles was married to one of her 



^°It was first proposed to 
call this the Northern Bank, and 
a Bill passed the Assembly, 
which provided that it should 
be located between Mill Creek 
and Meadow Creek, on the Road 
leading from Troy to Lansing- 
burgh, the Site to be fixed by 
four Commissoners. On the 
31st March, 1801, the Bill in- 
corporating the Farmers' Bank 
became a Law, the Charter ex- 
tending to 1811, its Capital 
Stock consisting of five thou- 
sand Shares of fifty Dollars 
each, and the whole Amount of 
Stock, Estate and Property 
was limited at three hundred 
thousand Dollars. The Direct- 
ors were to be selected two 
from Waterford, five from 
Lansingburgh and six from 
Troy. Accordingly the first 
Directors were Guert Van 
ScHooNHOVEN and Samuel Ste- 



wart of Waterford; Elijah 
Janes, Charles Selden, John 
D. Dickinson, James Hickok and 
Wm. Bradly of Lansingburgh ; 
John Woodworth, Daniel Mer- 
RiTT, Benj. Tibbits, Christopher 
Hutton, Townsend McCoun and 
Ephraim Morgan of Troy. The 
necessary Buildings were to be 
erected at such Place in the 
Town of Troy, as Hosea Mof- 
FiT, Jonathan Brown, John E. 
Van Allen and James McKown 
should designate, near the 
Road leading from Troy to 
Lansingburgh, not further north 
than Mill Creek, nor further 
south than the House of Joshua 
Raymond. The Commissioners 
appointed for determining the 
Site, met on the Ground 10th 
April, and fixed its Location, 
and on the same day John D. 
Dickinson was chosen Presid- 
ent, and Hugh Peebles Cashier. 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



63 



Sisters. Mr. "Stephenson was a Merchant, occupy- 
ing a Store on the west Side of River Street. 

The Warren Family came from Connecticut at 
an early Day. I recollect three Sons, Esaias, Na- 
than and Stephen.^^ They occupied a Store adjoin- 
ing the River, on River Street, were extensively en- 
gaged in the purchase of Produce, and the Carry- 
ing Trade to Neio York. They were Men of Inte- 
grity, possessed the Confidence of the Community, 
and by regular Business acquired great Wealth. 
Esaias was the first President of the Troy Bank ; 

The Books were opened for 
Subscriptions at the House of 
Stephen Ashley, on the 13th 
May following. On the 31st 
May, 1803, the Bank declared 
a Dividend of i\ per cent, al- 
though the whole Stock had 
not yet been paid in. 



2^ Troy had in three of its 
Citizens an Influence and EflB- 
ciency in great Emergencies, 
such as no other City could 
boast. These three Citizens 
have finished their Course and 
ceased from their Labours, and 



their Deaths have left a Blank 
that cannot easily be filled. 
They were Richard P. Hart, 
Stephen Warren, George Tib- 
bits; each great in a particular 
Sphere, and neither adapted to 
fill the Position occupied by 
the other ; but when acting in 
concert, as they generally did, 
they presented a Power and an 
Influence, the Benefits of which 
have left their Impress, those 
wise Measures that have con- 
tributed so largely to make 
Troy what she is. — Troy Daily 
Budget, 22 July, 1849. 



64 Reminiscences of Troy. 

Stephen was subsequently President; the Family 
have ever been considered of great Respectability. 

The McCouN Family came about 1793 or 1794 ; 
the Sons were successful in Trade ; their Store, ad- 
joining the River, was nearly opposite the present 
Mansion House; Townsend McCoun, one of the Sons, 
was a Director of the Farmers' Bank, when I resided 
in Troy ; he built a House on Second Street, where 
his Family now resides. 

The venerable Philip Heartt was a Resident 
when I first came to the Village ; he became con- 
nected in Business with Benjamin Smith and Joseph 
Russell ; he was one of the Founders and efficient 
Officers of the Presbyterian Church, a particular 
Friend of the Rev. Dr. Jonas Coe, from whom his 
Son, the Hon. Jonas C. Heartt, derives his Name. 

The Firm of Morgan, Boardman & Cmt, were 
established as Merchants, as early as 1790. Coit 
removed soon after; Morgan and Boardman were 
respectable Men, in Business a Number of Years ; 
Mr. Boardman built the House on the west Side of 
Second Street, now occupied by his Family. 



Remimscences of Troy. 



65 



The first Tavern for general Accommodation was 
erected by Stephen Ashley,^ opposite the present 
Ferry ; he was a civil, obliging and attentive Land- 
lord, and deservedly had great Patronage. 

Jeremiah Pierce came in 1793 from Massachusetts, 
and opened a Tavern on River Street, near the 
Ferry ; it was much resorted to by Travellers, for 
many Years. After his Death, his Son William 



'^ 2 Stephen Ashley was from 
some Part of New England, 
and was the first Settler, haviug 
come here shortly after the 
Close of the Revolutionary 
War. He kept a Tavern two 
or three Years in the Farm 
House of Matthias Van der 
Heyden, on the south-east Cor- 
ner of River and Division Streets. 
The old Sign, Farmers'' Inn, is 
still faintly discernible under 
the Coats of Paint which have 
been put on to conceal it. 
Since the Engraving was made 
which appears on a previous 
Page, we have learned that the 
original Roof had a high Peak, 
after the regular old Dutch 
Fashion, and the gambrel Roof 
was of a later Date. Mr. Ash- 
9 



ley's Inn was afterwards on the 
north-east Corner of River and 
Ferry Streets; it was subsequent- 
ly known as Babcock's Tavern, 
which was burnt down about 
183T. His Sign, like many 
others of that Day, had a Por- 
trait of some Revolutionary 
OflBcer, probably was intended 
for Washington, and, about 
the Year 1791, read as fol- 
lows : 



WHY HEEE IS 




ASHLEY'S. 



66 Eemimscences of Troy. 

continued the Business, and kept one of the best 
Taverns in the Country. He was much esteemed, 
represented the County in the Assembly, and for 
some Time held the Office of Post Master in the 
City. 

Benjamin Smith came to Troy about the Com- 
mencement of the Settlement; he was never mar- 
ried. There seems to have been, by General 
Consent, perfect reliance on his Integrity. His 
Manners were simple and unobtrusive; his Means 
were moderate; always engaged in some useful 
Employment; at one Time, as I have already 
stated, connected with Mr. Heartt in Mercantile 
Business. He was zealously attached to the Re- 
publican Party, and gave it efficient Aid at Elec- 
tions. He had no personal Enemies ; I never heard 
any one speak disrespectfully or unkindly of Ben- 
jamin Smith. Although having the entire Confid- 
ence of his party, he was not ambitious for Office ; 
the Offices he held were not sought for; he was 
Treasurer of the County, a Judge of the Court, one 
of the Electors of President, and Clerk of the County, 



Reminiscences of Troy. 67 

holding the latter Office until the Time of his Death. 
Mr. Smith, not like many of the present Day abound- 
ing in Wealth, not stinted in the Expressions of 
benevolent Feeling, but limited when called into 
Exercise, was ever ready, as far as in his Power, to 
aid the Unfortunate and Distressed. At that 
Time the Collection of Debts in Vermont was slow 
and tedious ; Creditors in New York were desirous 
of subjecting their Debtors in Vermont to the more 
stringent Process of Collection in this State ; Troy 
being a Location to which there was frequent Re- 
sort, many an unlucky Wight, who had crossed 
the Line of separation, and arrested on Process 
issued in this County, would have been compelled 
to accept a temporary Residence within the four 
Walls, had not Benjamin Smith come to the Rescue. 
I recollect a Remark of the late Hon Amasa Paine, 
speaking of his friendly Acts, observed, "He was 
ready to become Bail for all Vermont;" and yet be- 
lieved he had been so Fortunate as to Escape with 
trifling Loss. In kind Actions, he might well 
compare with the Man of Ross ; and to him he ap- 



68 Reminiscences of Troy, 

plied the Lines addressed to Virgil on the Death 

of QuiNTiLius Varus ; 

"Such was his Worth, our Loss is such, 

We can not love too well, or grieve too much ." 

Benjamin Gorton was a Merchant, who came 
from Hudson ; had been to China, and learned the 
Meaning of a few Chinese Words ; being an old 
Bachelor, he soon marfied Miss Foster, a hand- 
some young Woman, and occupied a Part of his 
Store on River Street, converted into a comfortable 
Dwelling for himself and his young Wife. Gor- 
ton was rather penurious, his Business and Profits 
moderate, yet wishing to entertain a few Friends 
without Notoriety, in Consequence of his Marriage, 
invited some six or eight Gentlemen, who were 
Favourites, to call on him at his Store ; they came 
in the Forenoon ; the Entertainment was confined 
to a few Glasses of Wine ; the Effect was soon per- 
ceptible ; soon after, a Number of young Men, not 
invited, came in and wished to participate in the 
Celebration ; a little Wine made them boisterous, 
so that some of the Wine was unavoidably 



Reminiscences of Troy. 69 

spilled; Gorton, always a strict Economist, ex- 
claimed, "Drink, Gentlemen, drink, but for 
Heaven's Sake don't spill ;" the Scene that followed 
may be easily imagined ; it partook largely of the 
Ridiculous, but must pass into Oblivion. The late 
Gen. Peter B. Porter, then a Student at law in 
Troy, acted among others a conspicuous Part. For 
a long Time after, Gorton's Wedding was the Sub- 
ject of pleasant Conversation. Abandoning Mer- 
chandise, he became a Fanatick on Questions of 
Religion, denounced all Sects, set up for himself, 
published a Book to write down the late reverend 
and learned Dr. Lathrop, of W^est Springfield, by 
establishing, as he thought, Heresy in some of the 
Doctor's Sermons.^ Gorton held religious Meet- 

2 3 Mr. Gorton, among other through the Streets on Horse- 
Discoveries which he made in back, with a Trumpet, sound- 
the Course of his peculiar In- ing the Alarm. He lived to see 
vestigations, thought he had a good many Years pass away 
found the Millennial Day, and after that misguided Exploit, 
became so thoroughly imbued and was finally gathered to his 
with the Exactness of his Cal- Fathers in the ordinary Way, 
culations, that when the Day some twenty Years ago, at a 
came which he had fixed for ripe old Age. 
the grand Catastrophe, he rode 



70 Reminiscences of Troy, 

ings at his House on the Sabbath, but few read 
the Book, or attended his religious Services. Not- 
withstanding these Vagaries, Mr. Gorton was a 
man of strict Integrity, no one doubting his Purity 
of Intention: he passed on, more pitied than re- 
proached. 

In Troy, as in other Places, there was a great 
variety of Character; among the Number, the So- 
journer would frequently meet one, who had seen 
nearly ninety Years ; a walking Spectre, leaning on 
his Staff, tall, lean, and tottering with Age, his 
Head white as the new fallen Snow, talkative, and 
eager to detain any one he happened to meet, with 
Stories of the Olden Time, a thousand Times be- 
fore repeated ; it required some Effort of the Hearer 
to escape, especially when a little excited, for " he 
lik'd his Glass." Such was old Derick Van der 
Heyden,^* either the Father, or Grandfather of Mat. 

^* Dirk Van dek Heyden, the lator in Leases at Schaghticoke, 

Progenitor of this Family, was which were then attracting the 

an Inn-keeper in Albany in the Attention of the Albany Capi- 

early Part of the last Century, talists. The Common Council 

Besides the Poesten Boxiwery having cautiously weighed the 

Enterprise, he was a Specu- Matter, allowed eight Farms 



Reminiscences of Troy. 71 

Van der Heyden ; he was known by every one as 
Old Uncle Derick, 

Horace once travelling on the Via Sacra was 
met by one of the garrulous Idlers, whose Name 
he did not know ; wishing to get rid of him, tried 
several Ways to effect his Object, but in vain. 

to be leased there, which were £15 and a Yearly Rent of thirty 

actually drawn by Lot out of Bushels of Winter Wheat; also 

the Mayor's Hat. Dirk Van for another Third of the same 

DER Heyden, in 1117, was " y^ Premises at £S1, and the same 

highest Bidder for one-third Annual Rent as the first. We 

part of y^ Round Flatt, and have been permitted to copy 

one-third of a small Flatt of six from the Papers of the late 

Morgen on y® South Side of Jacob L. Lane, the following 

y« Schaahkooks Creek, together Genealogical Facts respecting 

with one-third of Sixty Morgen the Family of the Van der Hey- 

of Wood Land adjoining," at dens of Troy, here first printed. 

IBirlt Van Xsex J^cjjlicn is supposed to have died in 1738, and to have been 
buried in the Dutch Burial ground in Albany, 10th Oct , of that year. 
(See Munsell's Annals Albany, vol. i, p. 239.) His Sons were, I. Jacob ; 
II. David I. ; III. Matthias. 

Family op the Middle Allotment. 

I. JACOB, eldest Son of Dirk, had, 1. Derick ; 2. Jacob ; 3. a Daughter, 
who married Van Aeenam. He died April 8, 1746, aged 54. 

1. Derick, Heir-at-Law to the Northern and Middle Allotments, conveyed 
to his Brother Jacob the Northern Allotment ; Deed dated 2 July, 
19 Geo. II, A. D. 1746 (Reus. Co. Clerk's Office, in Deeds, pp. 62- 

3, 4, 5, 17th March, 1802) ; married Elizabeth , who died, aged 60 ; 

had Jacob D. ; Catharine, Wife of Levinus Lansing ; Hester, Wife of 
Cornelius Lansing ; Elizabeth, Wife of John Hansen ; Alida, Wife of 



72 Reminiscences of Troy. 

The Intruder saw this, and said, "I perceive for 
some Time you wished to get rid of me, but it is 
Labour lost ; I have no Business on Hand, and will 
follow you." It was equally difficult to get rid of 
Uncle Derick; the Patience of the Hearer was soon 
exhausted ; his only Remedy was in Flight. 

The Words Van der Heyden sig- City). Although these Words 
nify from the Heathen. At an sometimes have a slightly dif- 
early Day some Dirk Van der ferent Meaning, the Defini- 
Heydkn may have been so tions are near enough for the 
called to distinguish him from present Purpose. There are 
another Dirk, for instance Dirk some other Peculiarities about 
Van den Berg (from the Hill), the Derivation of Dutch Sur- 
er Van den Burg (from the names. If Jan and Evert Van 

EusHA Adams ; Susanna, Wife of Gideon Hinman. He died 1774-5, aged 
40 ; Will dated 11 May, 1774. 

Jacob D., born 20 Oct., 1758 ; known as Patroon ,- married, 1. Jane, Daugh- 
ter of Adam Yates ; she died 11 Sept., 1793, aged 29y. 4m. ; had 
Derick Y., who died 1 Feb., 1818, aged 36y. Im. 6d. ; Catharine, 
Wife of Jacob Lansing, died 7 April, 1822, aged 38y. 8m. 27d. ; Eliza- 
beth, Wife of Derick C. Lansing, died 2 July, 1812, aged 37y. 6m. 21d.; 
John G., died 5 Jan., 1829, aged 42y. 2d., leaving no posterity. Married 
2. Mart, Daughter of Joshua Owen ; she was born 1 July, 1767 ; died 
20 Feb., 1809, aged 41y. 7m. 19d. ; had Jane, died 12 Aug., 1813, 
aged 14y. 9m. 14d. ; Samuel, died 27 Nov., 1823, aged 22y. 6d. ; 
Jacob D. E., died 25 Dec, 1839, aged 35 ; Sally Ann M., Wife of John 
H. Bayeux, born 1 April, 1806, died 8 Oct., 1831, aged 25y. 6ui. 7d. ; 
Blandina, Wife of Walter R. Morris, died 14 Sept., 1838. He died 4 
Sept., 1809, aged 50y. 10m. 2d. Will dated 3 April, 1809. 

Derick Y., died 1 Feb., 1818, aged 36y. Im. 6d. ; had Jacob D., born 18 
Dec, 1812, died 7 Dec, 1816, aged 3y. 10m. lid. ; Derick Y., d*ied 28 



Reminiscences of Troy. 73 

Maj. Gen. Wool, was an active and intelligent 
young Man, occupying a Store on River Street. He 
early had a Passion for Military Life, and like 
young Norval, had heard of Battles, and longed to 
follow to the Field some warlike Chief, "and 

DER Heydejj, residing in the in Jansex and Bvertsen. Most 

same Vicinity, had each a Son Dutch Surnames in America 

named Jan, one would be terminating in sen, have arisen 

called Jan Jansen {John Son in this Way; in Holland it 

of John), and the other Jan would be zoon, Janszoon. It is 

Evertsen (/oA?^ Son of Evert) ; for this Reason difficult to 

and in Time the original Name Trace the Genealogy of many 

Van der Heyden might be lost Dutch Families in this Country. 

March, 1818, aged ly. ; Jane Elizabeth, Wife of Jacob D. Lansing, died 
9 Dec, 1833, aged 19y. 

Samuel, had a son, Samuel Douglas, since deceased. 

Jacob D. E., had two Daughters. 

There are no male Descendants of this Branch living. 

n. David I. was a Merchant in Albany ; released his Interest in the Farm to 
his Brother Jacob, 2 March, 1732. We have no Trace of his Descend- 
ants. 

Family of the Northern Allotment. 

2. Jacob, had Jacob L ; Nanning, died 1791, leaving no posterity ; Derick ; 
Maria, Wife of Levinus Levisee. 
V Jacob I., married Maria, Daughter of Aaron Van Schaick, of Coxsackie; she 
died 6 April, 1813, aged 57 ; had Jacob I. ; Nancy, Wife of Elias Frats ; 
Maria, Wife of Abm. Lansing, died 29 April, 1835, aged 55y. 11m. 3d. ; 
Robert, died 2 June, 1810, aged 21y. 16d., leaving no posterity; John, 
died 6 Sept., 1811, aged 27y., leaving no posterity ; Aaron, died 22 
Feb., 1809, aged 22y. 2m. 13d., leaving no posterity ; Derick L, died 
6 June, 1829, aged 33y. 7m. 14d. He died 23 Aug., 1801, aged 52. 
10 



74 Reminiscences of Troy. 

Heaven soon granted," all that he desired. In the 
War of 1812, he commenced his Career, and 
immediately distinguished himself; his Military- 
Services are recorded in History, and appreciated 
by a grateful Country. After the lapse of forty 

Terminations in A (as Van den h; hence Words and Names 
Bergh) and ck (as in TenEyck), found in their Dictionary corn- 
are Americanisms. TheNeder- mencing with C, are foreign 
duitsch seldom use the letter c, Words, with scarcely an Hxcep- 
except in a few Cases before tion. 

Jacob I., had Jacob I., who died 6 Oct., 1830, aged 29y. 9m. 17d. ; Maria, 
wife of Robert M. Winne. 
There are no male Descendants of this Branch living. 

Family of the Southern Allotment. 

III. Matthias, who inherited the Southern Allotment, which included the 
Old Mansion, died in 1772. He had 1. Derick; 2. John, who was 
drowned 18 June, 1784. 

Derick, known as Uncle Derick,- had Matthias, born 9 Sept., 1760, died IT 
Aug., 1825, aged 65 ; John D.,born 8 Oct., 1761, died 1825; Abram D., 
born 25 April, 1767, died 14 March, 1847 ; Richard, born 3d June, 1763, 
died 1 Jan., 1816. He died 16May, 1814, aged 88. 

Matthias, born 9 Sept., 1760 ; [marrie d Rebekah McCartyJI had Derick M, 
born 26 Aug., 1783, died 5 Feb., 1809, aged 25y. 5m. lOd. ; Henry M 
born 25 May, 1785, died 22 June, 1820; aged 35y. 28d. ; Matthias 
born 25 Nov., 1788, died 23 Nov., 1840 ; Jacob M., born 11 June, 1793 
is the last male Survivor of this ancient Family ; has had 6 Sons, all of 
whom are deceased, and 5 Daughters, of whom but one survives. 

John D., born 8 Oct., 1761, died 13 April, 1825 ; had Richard ; Jacob ; Levi 
N0S D. ; Susan, Wife of Philip Ford ; Sally, Wife of Henry Gardinier. 

Abram D., born 25 April, 1767 ; died 14 March, 1847 ; had George ; Richard 
John F. ; Catharine ; Sali,y, Wife of Henry Oothout. 



I 



Reminiscences of Troy. 75 

Years, loaded with Honours, he returns to the 
Home of his Youth ; surrounded by all the Bless- 
ings that make Life desirable. 

I could name a Number of Individuals, who 
would be an Acquisition to any Place, such as 
Ebenezer Jones, and his Son-in-law, Capt, Skelding, 
residing in the upper Part of the Village ; Dr 
John Loudon, Mahlon Taylor, owning the Mills on 
Poesten Kil, Jonathan and Alsop Hunt,^^ sons of Mr. 

2^ This Firm, like mauy begun to coin either Silver or 
others, issued Paper Money, Copper, and to supply the 
and we kive been so fortunate Wants of a rapidly increasing 



as to find a Specimen of their 
Issue among the large Collec 



Commerce, Cities, Towns, Cor- 
porations and Individuals is- 




tion in the Albany Institute, sued, without Restraint, what 
made by the late T. R. Beck, came to be termed Shin-plasters. 
The Government had not yet There was a Necessity for it 

which overcame 
all Scruples, and 
judging by the 
Number of those 
who were concern- 
ed in issuing it, 
the Quantity in 
Circulation must 
have been very 
great. This Coun- 
terfeit is very ex- 
act. 



){jI/'£ Promife to pay the Bear-)( ^J 
X cr, THREE PENCE, on){ ^^ 

)( demand, at our Store. 

)( ^^"^j' 7'^»- ' 




76 Reminiscences of Troy. 

Hunt, of Hum's Point, a Hurlgate^^ Pilot, who built 
a Store near the Ferry ; Howard Moulton, who 
erected a Building and kept a respectable Tavern, 
near the Court House on the Ground now occupied 
by the justly celebrated Female Seminary of Mrs. 
WiLLARD ; I could mention others, but the Designa- 
tion of Name alone can not be interesting ; suffice 
it to say, the collective Population of the Place, 
like coming Events cast their Shadows before ; it 
was no extravagant Conjecture, that with such 
Materials, a rich and populous City would arise. 

2® The genuine Dutch Term hour, and a Horrour of the 
for this Abyss is Helgat, or Place may have given rise to 
Hellegat. If the original and the Appellation, with no pro- 
true Orthography had been fane Intent. At the worst, if 
preserved, it would be less it be considered a rough Term 
shocking to Ears polite, and for a rough Place, Hurlgaie is 
have saved a worse Corrup- an insignificant Substitute, and 
tion. It may be difficult, at Hel/gate a very absurd oncv 
this late Day, to determine The original Term may be 
how broad and coarse a Mean- used without necessarily creat- 
ing was intended to be con- ing any mawkish Sensibility, 
veyed by the Navigator who while the Substitute can only 
bestowed the Name, since it excite Disgust when it meets 
is capable of various Construe- the Eye or falls upon the Ear 
tions. It may be rendered, of those who cherish the das- 
Condemned Hole. Gat is some- sick DxUch, or venerate de Taal 
times used to signify a Har- die, zalige Ouders spraken ! 



Reminiscences of Troy. 77 

Never to be forgotten, let me mention the Name 
of the Rev. Jonas Coe.^^ As a happy Presage of 



^ "^ Jonas Coe was a Son of 
John and Hannah (Halstead) 
Coe, and was born at Ntw 
Hampstead, Orange County, N. 
Y., on the 20th of March, 1159. 
His Father was an earnest 
Patriot in the Revolution, and 
on one Occasion took with him 
into Battle five of his Sons, 
one of whom was the Subject 
of this Sketch, then only six- 
teen Years of Age. In due 
Time, he became a Member of 
Queen* s (now Rutgers) College, 
New Brunswick, N. J., where 
he graduated in 1789. He 
spent his Vacations in labour- 
ing on his Father's Farm, and 
occasionally at other times 
also, he returned Home to 
render him temporary Aid. 
He received the Degree of 
Master of Arts from the College 
of New Jersey in 1192, and from 
Union College in 1197. He pur- 
sued his theological Studies 
under the Direction of the Rev. 
Dr. RoDGERS of New York; 
was taken under the Care of 
the Presbytery of New York, 



October 11, 1190; and was 
licensed to Preach on the 1th 
of October, 1191. On the 3d 
of May, 1192, a Call from the 
Church in Stamford, Conn., was 
put into his Hands, which, 
however, he declined. The 
Town of Troy originally com- 
prehended two Villages — Troy 
and Lansinghurgh, distant from 
each other about three Miles. 
While these Villages were yet 
in their Infancy, there were a 
Number of Individuals in each 
of them who were desirous of 
having the Benefit of a preach- 
ed Gospel, but the Number was 
not sufiicient in either Place 
to enable them to support a 
Minister. The Inhabitants of 
the two Villages, forming two 
separate Congregations, there- 
fore combined their Strength, 
and invited Mr. Coe, then a 
highly respectable Licentiate, 
to become their Pastor, preach- 
ing in the two Places on alter- 
nate Sabbaths, He accepted 
the Call, and on the 11th of 
October, 1192, was dismissed 



78 Reminiscences of Troy. 

the Future, there was a strong Feeling manifest, 
that religious Instruction, on the Principles of the 



to the Presbytery of Albany, 
was received by that Body on 
the 20th of February, 1793 
(after an Examination of two 
Days !), and was ordained and 
installed on the 25th of June 
following. During the earlier 
Years of his Ministry, he re- 
sided in Lansinghurgh, but as 
early at least as 1802, he re- 
moved his Family to Troy, and 
there spent the rest of his 
Days. In 1803, after he had 
held this united Charge about 
eleven Years his Congregation 
at Troy had so much increased 
in both Numbers and pecuniary 
Ability, that they felt them- 
selves strong enough to sup- 
port the Ministry without shar- 
ing the Expense with the sister 
Village; and, accordingly the 
Union between the two Con- 
gregations was dissolved, and 
Mr. Coe's sole Charge thence- 
forth was in Troy. At the 
Time of his Settlement over 
these Congregations, almost 
the whole northern Part of the 
State of New York was a Wil- 



derness. As Settlements com- 
menced at various Points, he 
visited them in the Capacity 
of a Missionary, endeavouring 
to aid them, as far as he could, 
to the Establishment of Christ- 
ian Institutions. In one of 
these benevolent Excursions, 
he went as far North as Platts- 
burg. The Degree of Doctor 
of Divinity was conferred upon 
him by Middlebury College in 
1815. Dr. Coe's Ministry was 
not marked by Any striking 
Events, except that it was 
attended by several remark- 
able Revivals of Religion, 
Its general Character in this 
Respect may be suflSciently 
indicated by the Fact that 
between 1815 and 1818, no 
less than two hundred and 
sixty were received as Mem- 
bers of his Church. It was 
JDr. Coe's daily Prayer in his 
Family, as well as his often 
expressed Wish in Conversa- 
tion, that he might not survive 
his Usefulness; nothing seemed 
to distress him more than the 



Reminiscences of Troy. 79 

Gospel, was essential, as well to promote the best 
Interests of the present Life, as of that which is to 
come. Mr. Coe, then a young Man, was invited 
to preach ; this was in 1791 ; his Preaching was at 
first confined to a large Room in the House of Ste- 



Idea of becomiug a superan- 
nuated Clergyman, and a Bur- 
den to his People. God merci- 
fully granted him this Desire 
of his Heart. He was laid 
aside from his Work but six 
Weeks, and confined to his 
Bed but a few Days, prior to 
his Death, His Disease was 
a peculiar kind of Dyspepsia. 
In his Decline as well as in his 
Vigour, in his Death as well as 
in his Life, he bore an honour- 
able Testimony to the power 
and excellence of the Gospel. 
He died on the 21st of July, 
1822, in the sixty-fourth Year 
of his Age. His Funeral 
Sermon was preached by 
his Neighbour and intimate 
Friend, the Rev. Dr. Blatch- 
FORD. Twenty-five Clergymen' 
were in Attendance at his 
Funeral. Dr. Coe, was first 
married on the 27 th of Sep- 



tember, 1194, to Eliza Hunt- 
ting, Daughter of Dr. Matthias 
B. and Phoebe Miller, and 
Sister of the Hon. Morris S. 
Miller, who was for some 
Time a Member of Congress. 
She was a Lady of great per- 
sonal Attractions, as well as 
uncommon Loveliness and Ex- 
cellence of Character. She 
was born in Duchess County, 
N. Y., April 10, 1178, and died 
on the 19th of April, 1805. 
On the 14th of May, 1810, he 
was married to Abigail Wal- 
lace, also a Native of Duchess 
County, who then resided in 
Lansinghurgh, and who still 
(1857) survives in her eighty- 
sixth Year, He had three 
Children, two Sons and one 
Daughter, all by the first 
Marriage. Tlte eldest Son, 
Edward M., was graduated at 
Union College in 1815; studied 



80 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



PHEN Ashley ; soon thereafter a Church was erected 
on First Street f^ it remained a Number of Years ; on 
being taken down, the elegant new Church, in 
which the Rev. Dr. Beeman now officiates, was 
erected. Dr. Coe was not a man of splendid 

Law, and engaged in the 
Practice of it at Troy, where 
he died February 12, 1828, 
aged thirty-one Years. John 
R. was born in January, 1800; 
was graduated at Union College 
in 1816; became a Student at 
the Princeton Theological Semi- 
nary in the Autumn of 1817; 
was licensed to preach by the 
Presbytery of Troy in October, 
1820; after labouring for some 
Time as a Missionary, was 
ordained and installed Pastor 
of the Church in Whitehall, N. 
Y., in July, 1822; and died in 
September, 1823, He inherited 
many of his Father's excel- 
lent Qualities, and many fond 
Hopes were blasted by his 
early Death. — Sprague's Annals 
Am. Pulpit, 111, 576. 
• 
^ ^ The Currency at this Time 
was Specie; the Paper Money 



of the Government and of in- 
dividual States had become 
obsolete; the Bank of the United 
States went into operation in 
1791, and the JVew York Bank 
was incorporated the same 
Year. Money was found for 
the Building of Churches, but 
the weekly Collections were 
made with Difficulty by Reason 
of the great Dearth of small 
Coin. Accordingly we find on 
the Minutes of the First Pres- 
byterian Church of Albany, that 
on the 4th Jan. 1790, the Trust- 
ees " Resolved, That one thou- 
" sand Coppers be stamped 
" Church Penny, and placed in 
" the Hands of the Treasurer, for 
"the Purpose of exchanging 
" with the members of the Con- 
"gregation at the Rate of twelve 
" for one Shilling, in order to 
" add Respect to the weekly 
" Collections." It is presumed 



Reminiscences of Troy. 81 

Talents, but possessing sound, practical Good 
Sense and ardent Piety, was greatly esteemed, 
and deservedly so; like the great Apostle, he was 
instant in Season and out of Season, ever Ready 
to visit and comfort the Mourner, to attend the 
Bed of Sickness, and administer Instruction and 
Consolation, accompanied by his Prayers ; he was 



that the same Necessity gave 
Rise to the Paper Money, of 
which the annexed is a Fac- 
simile, issued by the First 
Presbyterian Church in 1192, 



> uonoor>^/yit<yit/yi(jontanoon 



and authenticated by the Sig- 
nature of Benjamin Gorton. 
The original is in the Collection 
of the Albany Institute. 







Obverse. 



Reverse. 



11 



82 



Reminiscences of Troy, 



always very impressive in presenting the Scenes 
that will open upon us immediately after Death. 
His last Sickness I considered an Illustration of 
Mrs. Barbauld's beautiful Lines, "How blest the 
Righteous when he dies." He answered Cowper's 
Description of an Evangelical Preacher. During 
his Ministry, an extensive Revival of Religion 
took place ; many had cause to give Thanks, that 
under his Preaching they had been awakened, and 
by divine Assistance been enabled to lay hold of 
the Hope set before them.^^ This excellent Man, 



^^ To his Instrumentality may 
be attributed, undoubtedly, the 
State of Things alluded to in 
the following Notice from the 
Albany Gazette of July, 1804, 
which illustrates the Tolerance 
of the Primitive Church : "It 
" can not but be pleasing to 
" the Friends of Keligion to 
" notice the Ardour for erecting 
" convenient Places of Publick 
" Worship, which at present ac- 
" tuates the Citizens of this 
" flourishing Village. This Ar- 
" dour is not confined to any par- 
" ticular Sect or Class of Wor- 
" shippers, but seems equally 



' diffused through all Classes ; 
'which exhibits itself in their 
' liberal Subscriptions for the 
' Erection of Churches the pre- 
sent Season. Yesterday Morn- 
' ing [July 2j at 10 o'clock the 
Rev. David Butler, accom- 

■ panied by the Rev. Mr. Coe, 
' Pastor of the Presbyterian 
' Church, and a respectable 

■ Number of Citizens, formed 
in Procession, and proceeded 

■ to the Spot destined for the 
Protestant Episcopal Church, 

' and with the usual Exercises 
' of Prayer, vocal and instru- 
' mental Musick, &c., laid the 



Reminiscences of Troy. 83 

his physical Frame worn out by Labours in the 
Service of his Master, terminated his Course with 
bright Prospects of future Glory, in 1822. He was 
succeeded by the Rev. Dr. Beeman, a Man of 
powerful Intellect ; among the most impressive 
Preachers of the Gospel. Long may he remain 
on the walls of Zion, and cooperate with the lu- 
minous Mind of KiRWAN in vindicating Truth and 
demolishing Errour. 

About the year 1799, Moses Vail removed from 
the Village of Nassau to Troy. He had an interest- 
ing Family of Sons and Daughters; he had been 
a Senator in the Legislature of this State for four 
Years.^" After he came to Troy, he was appointed 

" Corner Stone upon which to ^° At the May Election in 

"build an Edifice for the Pub- 1Y99, the Votes cast for Senator 

" lick Worship of God." Some were as follows : Moses Vail, 

Years subsequently this Church 166; Ebenezer Russell, 173; 

was enlarged, and is now Zina Hitchcock, 155; Robert 

known as St. John^s Church. Yates, 158; scattering, 6. For 

In 1805 the Baptist Church in Members of AssembIy,GE0. Tib- 

Third Street was erected, and bits, 207 ; J. W". Schermerhorn, 

the First Methodist Church in 204; James McKown, 225; Dan- 

State Street in 1809; the Friends^ iel Gray, 205; J. A. Fort, 206; 

Meeting House in ISIO. Josiah Masters, 181; John 

WooDWOTH, 252; H. K. Van 



84 Reminiscences of Troy. 

Sheriff under the Federal Administration.^^ The 
political Complexion of the State, and the United 
States, being changed in 1801, he was obliged to 
give Place to a Successor of the Republican Party, 
upon the Ground upon which both Parties have 
acted, and as a general Rule I think unwisely, 
"that to the Victors belongs the Spoils;" establish- 
ing a Principle, calculated to sap the Foundation of 
all Purity in our Elections. Against the Operation 
of such a Rule there ought to be many Exceptions ; 



Rensselaer, 206; John Green, 
223; Silas Weeks, 186; J. L. 
HoGEBOOM, 206; R. Hall, 196; 
Scattering, 20. The whole 
Number of Voters was 430. 
Mr. WooDwoRTH was also an un- 
successful Candidate in 1801; 
and although he received a 
large Vote in Troy, in the other 
Towns of the County, it fell 
considerably behind that of his 
Competitors. 

At the same time, the fol- 
lowing were elected Officers of 
the Village of Troy : John 
Wood WORTH, Abraham Ten Eyck, 
Ebenezer Jones, Albert Paw- 
ling, Benjamin Gorton, Trus- 



tees. Daniel Merritt, Benjamin 
Smith, George Allen, Assessors. 
Moses Crafts, John Boardman, 
Thomas Davis, Benjamin Covil, 
David Buel, Russel Lord, Fire 
Wardens. Abraham Ten Eyck, 
Treasitrer. George Greenwood, 
Collector. The Trustees called 
a Meeting of the Citizens on 
the 10th of Sept., to consult 
on the Propriety of building a 
Market House. 

^^ Mr. Vail was appointed 
Sheriff of Rensselaer County. 
in the Place of James Dole re- 
signed. 



Reminiscences of Troy. 85 

and I well remember that at the Time, I thought 
the Case of Mr. Vail, formed one. He was a Man 
of unquestioned Integrity, kind and gentle in his 
Manners ; and had, like Duncan, " borne his Facul- 
ties so meek, and been so clear in his great Office." 
Of him now dead, it may be said, " his Sons come 
to Honour, and he knoweth it not." Yet before 
his Departure, he had the happy Presage of their 
Distinction, now verified in the Person of George 
Vail, late President of the Merchants and Mechanics' 
Bank, a Patron of Agriculture, and the Interests 
connected with it, and the Hon. Henry Vail, late 
a Representative of the County in the Congress of 
the United States. 

Jacob D. VanderHeyden, the Original Proprietor^^ 

^^ Jacob D. was not the Ori- Poesten Bouwery, which would 

ginal Proprietor, although seem to have been a Farm on 

known as Patroon at this Time, the Poesten Kil, embracing' the 

The Papers of the late Jacob ground which afterwards be- 

L. Lane, Esq., exhibit the came the Vanderheyden Patent. 

following Facts, the Result of 1661, April 13, Letters Patent 

his Investigations during many were obtained by Sweke 

Years: In 1659, Jan Barentsen Teunissen Van Valsar, from 

procured from the Indian Pro- Governor Richard Nicols, Jan 

prietors a Conveyance of the Teunissen having married the 



86 Reminiscences of Troy. 

of the Ground on which the City is built, is entitled 
to notice ; he grew up to Manhood without Educa- 
tion, having at Schools made but little Progress. 
Although, as I am informed, not addicted to Vice 
beyond such as by a certain religious Sect are con- 
sidered Venial, his early Associations were among 
those of a kindred Character. He was allowed to 



widow of Jan Barentsen. 
1679, May 6, Swere Teunissen 
conveyed the Property to 
Petrie Van Waglam; who, 
June 2, 1707, conveyed to 
Dirk Van der Heyden the Poesten 
Bouwery, and also the Land 
lying between Piscawen and 
Meadow Creeks. The former of 
these now supplies the City 
with Water, and the latter is 
arched over at Hoosick Street, 
and formes a Sewer. 1720, 
Dec. 15, a Lease was obtained 
from Stephen Van Rensselaer 
by Dirk Van der Heyden, of the 
whole Tract, 497 Acres, at an 
Annual Rent of 3| Bushels of 
Wheat and 3 fat Fowls. 1731, 
Dirk Van der Heyden conveyed 
to his Sons Jacob, David L, and 
Matthias, by Deed, on file in 
Book F, p. 225 in the Albany 



County Clerk's Office. 1732, 
March 2, David I. released his 
Third to his Brother Jacob. 
1739, April 3, Partition Deed 
to the Three Brothers, under 
which Jacob took the Middle and 
North Allotments, and Matthias 
the Southern Allotment. 1742 
May 25, Matthias purchased 
from Johannes Coeymans 16| 
Acres, lying partially on the 
Poesten Kil. 1746, Derick, Son 
and Heir-at-Law of Jacob, con- 
veyed to his Brother Jacob, 
one half of the Northern and 
Middle Allotment. 1771, Jan. 
21, Matthias mortgaged the 
whole of the Southern Allot- 
ment to Lucas Van Vechten for 
£200, and died the following 
Year, having devised to his 
Son Derick. 1792, July 20, 
Van Vechten released to Mat- 



Reminiscences of Troy. 



87 



be a Chief in the Dissipations of the Community 
where he dwelt ; he was such when he came into 
Possession of his Estate : shortly after, a surprising 
Change took Place; the Operation of some mighty 
Power on his Mind at once produced a Change in 
his Habits ; instead of silly Trifling, and at Times 



THiAS 56 Acres, and 6| Acres. 
Aug. 1, John D., for £1800 
conveyed to Mahlon Taylor 
16| Acres; and Taylor on the 
same Day mortgaged the same 
to New Loan Officers. On the 
same Day Matthias mortgaged 
to the New Loan Officers 6| 
Acres, which on 15th Sept* 
1199, were sold by them to 
Albert Pawling. 1792, Aug. 
13, Matthias conveyed to John 
D., 56 Acres, which John D., 
on the same Day conveyed to 
Mahlon Taylor; who on the 
18th, mortgaged to New Loan 
Officers. 1795 Mahlon Taylor 
and Wife mortgaged to Frances 
Atkinson, 56 Acres, and 16| 
Acres for $4000. 1799, July 
23, Sheriff Dole conveyed to 
Lucas Van Vechten all the 
Farm except 56 Acres; and on 
the 18th Sept., the New Loan 



Officers sold the 56 Acres to 
Albert Pawling. The Middle 
Allotment was being cut up 
into City Lots in the Meantime. 
Judge BuEL says in his Address, 
that the earliest Surveys and 
Allotments were made between 
the Years 1786 and 1790. The 
Adventurers who had persuad- 
ed the quiet Occupants of the 
Place to lay out their Farms 
into Village Lots, erected one 
or two slight Buildings in 
1787; but no Dwelling-House 
was erected by any Immigrant 
before the Year 1787. An in- 
telligent and respectable Citi- 
zen, who immigrated to this 
Place in the Spring of 1789, 
stated that at that Time, five 
small Stores and about a do- 
zen Dwelling-Houses had been 
erected. 



88 Reminiscences of Trmj. 

profane Conversation, with which he had been fa- 
miliar, he became serious, exhibiting the Appear- 
ance of a Mind not at Ease, yet indicating no 
Symptoms of Moroseness. He was assiduous and 
constant in the Study of the Bible, became familiar 
with it, and learned in its Contents; affording Evi- 
dence of such Acquisitions, on all Occasions, when 
in Religions Assemblies he was called to take a 
Part. Mr. Van der Heyden was one who in his 
Life and Conversation gave satisfactory Evidence 
of Christian Character; he was one of the Pillars 
of the Presbyterian Church; not on sectarian Ground, 
he was no Bigot, but acting on the Principle that 
this was a useful Avenue to extend the Knowledge 
of Salvation, and impress the great Truths of the 
Gospel on the Heart ; always liberal in Contribu- 
tions, and in Christian Labours abundant. His Ex- 
ample at that early Day, shed a moral Influence in 
the Community ; the Fruit of which is Visible at 
the present Day. 

The Hon, John Lovett, for several Years resided 
in Lansingburgh, was a Lawyer, and regularly at- 



Reminiscences of Troy. 89 

tended the Courts holden in Troy ; he was a Man 
of Genius, and possessed great Versatility of 
Talent. He wrote Poetry ; many fugitive Pieces, 
published occasionally, were much admired. Lord 
Sterling died in Albany in 1783, and was buried 
under the old Dutch Church, standing in State Street 
opposite the present Exchange. Mr. Lovett wrote 
an Eulogium, intended to be pronounced immedi- 
ately preceding the Interment ; it was much admir- 
ed, and published ; he subsequently wrote in Poetry 
pieces of Wit and keen Satire. I have never known 
a Person who always had at command such a va- 
riety of Anecdote, ready for Use, whatever might 
be the Subject of Conversation. During the Sittings 
of the Circuit Cjourts, from 1795 to 1800, the Judge 
and Lawyers dined daily at the excellent Inn of 
Stephen Ashley; Mr. Lovett generally present, 
rendered those Parties remarkably Pleasant. Like 
Yorick, his sparkling Wit and flashes of Merriment 
would set the Table in a Roar ; long remembered, 
and often the Subject of Remark in other Times. 
Although possessed of fine Talents, he never 

12 



90 Reminiscences of Troy, 

relished the dry Study of the Law ; skillful in the 
Management of a Cause before a Jury, he never 
excelled in the Argument of a Question of Law, 
and did not obtain that Distinction as a Counsellor, 
which was in his Power, by applying himself more 
closely to judicial Studies. One of the Errours of 
his life was a Passion for Change of Employment, 
not often the Road to Success.^^ 

In the War of 1812, he accompanied Generals 
Stephen and Solomon Van Rensselaer to Niagara, 
as Secretary of the Former, and honourably acquit- 
ted himself in that Campaign. He afterwards re- 
presented the County of Albany in Congress with 
much Reputation. His Death took place in Ohio, 
about the year 1818 

There was another Gentleman of the Law who 

attended the Courts held in the County, a lineal 

Descendant of Dederick Knickerbocker,^ Author of 

^^ These Representations of ^* Shade of the veritable and 

Mr. LovETT, are thought to redoubtable Diederik Knikker- 

leave an erroneous Impression bakker! Thou shouldst have 

of his true Character, in many been spared such a Perversion 

Respects. See Note, ante, p. of the Vernacular. Is there 

1. no Remedy at Law against the 



Reminiscences of Troy. 91 

the veracious History of New York, who by other 
Writings has so elevated the literary Character of 
this Country, and so delighted his numerous Read- 
ers, it may be hazardous to dissent from his Opinion. 
The Gentleman referred to is known as the Prince 
of Schaghiicoke,^ with whom I have oft beguiled 
an Hour, in social Intercourse, witnessing in his 



Heirs of Mr. Washington 
Irving for degrading this ven- 
erated Nederduitsch Eigen- 
naaml Since the Publication 
of his renowned Translation, 
innumerable Objects of Art 
have taken the Appellation of 
Knickerbocker, from Hotels, 
Steam-boats, and Magazines, 
down to the stalest of Clam- 
carts. Diederik's Manuscript 
certainly bore no such Solecism, 
for the Orthography of Mr. 
Irving was unknown to the 
Voor-Ouders in either Hemi- 
sphere. We behold the Mon- 
strosity staring us in the Face 
at every Turn; an Abnormity 
which biide Joden en Joden 
genooten tolerate with Temerity, 
and propagate with Pertina- 
city 1 



^^ Herman Knickerbacker 
was the second Son of John 
Knickerbacker of Schaghticoke, 
and Grandson of Col. John 
Knickerbacker of the French 
and Revolutionary Wars. His 
Ancestors immigrated from the 
Province of Brabant, during 
the political Changes conse- 
quent upon the Death of Wil- 
liam II, Prince of Orange, in 
the Middle of the seventeenth 
Century. In 1709, Johannis 
Knickerbacker became one of 
the original Lessees from the 
City of Albany, of a Lot of 
Ground at Schaghticoke (Mun- 
sell's Annals Albany, \, 184, 192) 
which he increased by other 
Purchases, and removed there. 
Herman was born 21th July, 
1779, and having been edu- 



92 Reminiscences of Troy. 

Character, an overflow of friendly Feelings ; ever 
ready to afford Amusement, by some striking An- 
ecdote and sprightly Conversation, highly appre- 
ciated by his numerours Friends. 

In 1812 he represented the County of Rensselaer 
in Congress; many amusing Occurrences took 
Place at Washington ; on his Return I well remem- 



cated for the Bar, as a Pupil 
of John V. Henry, and after- 
wards of John Bird, he com- 
menced the Practice of his 
Profession at an early Age, 
taking immediately a promi- 
nent Place in it, as well as in 
Political Life, for which he 
was well suited. Being a de- 
cided Federalist and possessed 
of Wealth and great personal 
Influence, he was soon chosen 
to fill important OflBces, and 
when less than thirty Years 
of Age, was elected to the 
United States Congress during 
the Administration of President 
Madison, He was afterwards 
a Member of the New York 
Legislature, then Judge of the 
County of Rensselaer, until the 
Infirmities of Age forced him 



to retire from publick Life, 
In the OflBce of Supervisor, 
which he held for many Years, 
his Influence was often useful 
to the City of Troy, particu- 
larly in having it established 
as the Shire Town, an Advan- 
tage which, except for his ex- 
ertions, would have been given 
to the Village of Lansinghurgh. 
In social Life Judge Knicker- 
BACKER always filled a brilliant 
Place. Bred from his Child- 
hood to Association with some 
of the most distinguished Men 
of an Age remarkable for its 
high-toned Courtesy, and to 
the Controul of a large Family 
of Slaves, his Manners ac- 
quired that blending of Su- 
avity with Dignity peculiar to 
those accustomed to early In- 



Reminiscences of Troy. 93 

ber the Narrative was highly entertaining, and 
Characteristick of the Prince ; it was natural that 
Mr. Madison, then President, should inquire of one 
representing not only the County, but the Dutch 
dynasty, what was the difference between the 
Reformed Dutch Church and Presbyterians ? The 
Reply could not have been improved, by Dederick 
himself; as veracious as anything contained in the 



tercourse with the World, and 
the early Habit of Command. 
This, with his generous Hospi- 
tality and jovial Humour won 
for him the popular Sobriquet 
of Prince of Schaghticoke, and 
surrounded him with numerous 
Friends, whom, says the His- 
torian, " he received with open 
" Arms, and treated them with 
" wonderful loving Kindness." 
These, to their Credit, did not 
desert him in his Age and Mis- 
fortune, but ever with a Kind- 
ness he well deserved, gathered 
about him to console his Grief 
and conceal his Faults. With 
him has passed away nearly 
the last Representative of his 
Class — the old Dutch Gentle- 



men, whose Memory, long after 
their Places shall have been 
filled, and their Language for- 
gotten, will live green among 
the Lovers of Hospitality and 
Humour. A characteristick 
Anecdote is told of him while 
he was a Member of Congress. 
Being asked the Difference 
between the Dutch Reformed 
Tenets and those of the Pres- 
byterians, and not willing to 
acknowledge his Ignorance of 
the Subject, he replied, naively, 
that he believed one sang short 
Metre and the other longl We 
will add, for the Benefit of 
whom it may concern, that 
Knickerbacker was not the 
original family Name. 



94 Reminiscences of Troy, 

History of his Ancestors : *' The one sang Long 
Metre, and the other sang Short Metre." 

The Hon. John Bird, of Litchfield in Connecticut^ 
graduated at Yale College in 1786 ; was admitted 
to the Bar in that State, came to Troy in 1794, 
and practiced in the Courts of this State until his 
Death in 1805.^^ His Wife was a Daughter of 
Judge Porter of Salisbury, and Sister of the late Gen. 
Peter B. Porter, a Lady of great Intelligence. The 
Temperament of Husband and Wife were not cal- 
culated for conjugal Happiness ; the Consequence 
was a Divorce in Connecticut. My Impression is 
that Mr. Bird was not well fitted for the quiet 
Scenes of domestick Life; always impatient under 
Restraints, and sometimes vehement without suffi- 
cient Cause. His Integrity was never questioned ; 
his Genius was of a high Order, yet generally rest- 
less, when necessity imposed on him the Task of 
making laborious Research or intricate Questions of 
Law: always, however, when called to the Discus- 
es iWr. Bird terminated his in 1806, at the Age of 38. He 
brilliant but eccentrick Career was the Son of Dr. Seth Bird. 



Reminiscences of Troy. 95 

sion, remarkable for a Display of acute Reasoning 
and Talent. I have heard him in the Court of 
Common Pleas, when perhaps the Subject in liti- 
gation did not exceed $50, delight the Profession by 
profound Reasoning, and occasionally by a burst 
of Eloquence, not often equalled at the Bar of any 
Court. And here I may mention, that either in 
1797 or 1798, there was a warmly contested Elec- 
tion in the City of Albany, for Charter Officers ; on 
the Return of the Votes, there were several Ques- 
tions to be decided by the Mayor and Aldermen, 
one of which was, whether under the Charter, re- 
sident Aliens were entitled to Vote. A Resolution 
passed, that these Questions be argued by Counsel 
in the Supreme Court Room, in the old City Hall. 
Mr. Bird and myself were employed by one of the 
Candidates for a Seat in the Board, to argue the 
Questions on his Behalf The Counsel on the other 
Side, were the late Hon. James Emott, of Pough^ 
keepsie, and Josiah Ogden Hoffman, then Attorney- 
General of the State. The Questions were argued ; 
Mr. Bird closed the Argument ; he was almost in a 



96 Reminiscences of Troy. 

feverish State when he commenced, so intensely 
were his Feelings excited : his powerful Reasoning 
and Eloquence were much admired ; it was equal 
in Point of Eloquence to anything uttered by the 
late Chancellor Livingston in the same Hall, some 
twelve Years previously, on the Trial of an Eject- 
ment Cause, wherein he was Plaintiff to recover 
Lands in Duchess County, Parcel of his Patrimonial 
Estate, unjustly, as he supposed, withheld by the 
Defendant. The Hon, John Lovett was present 
at the Trial ; he is my Authority for the following : 
The Eloquence of the Chancellor produced a 
powerful Effect on the Court and Jury, and delight- 
ed every Hearer; the venerable Peter Schuyler, 
long since deceased, had been a Witness on a 
former Trial, giving Evidence strongly in Favour 
of the Chancellor's Claim ; his Testimony was 
read to the Court and Jury ; Mr. Lovett stated, that 
in commenting on this Evidence, the Chancellor 
urging its Force with great Power, and remarking 
on the additional Weight it would acquire, if the 
Witness, whose Intelligence and Character he de- 



Reminiscences of Trop. 97 

scribed, had been living and present, to testify on 
that Trial; exclaimed, " methinks I see that vene- 
" rable Man entering yon Door." The Appeal was 
so powerful, the Audience immediately began to 
open a Passage for his Reception. In another Part 
of the Chancellor's Argument, Mr. Lovett observed, 
his Eloquence in our Court had never been sur- 
passed. When he came to comment on the Evi- 
dence respecting the Possessions of the Litigants, 
to establish a possessory Right, Mr. Lovett recol- 
lected the beautiful Conclusion; "that this Pos- 
"sessory Right was not, like the Defendant's, 
"marked by Saplings of a few Years' growth, 
"but by venerable Oaks, whose Roots grasp the 
" Centre of the Earth, and whose topmost Boughs 
"stand waving to the Heavens." 

Mr. Bird seldom wrote on political Questions ; I 
have, however, in my Possession, an Article written 
by him in 1796, over the Signature of Nestor, which 
would be creditable to Edmund Burke. He was 
a great Admirer of Hume, especially his Essays. 
Although I never conversed with him on religious 
13 



98 Reminiscences of Troy, 

Subjects, my belief is, that he early inclined to 
Scepticism; perhaps not to the avowal of Infidelity, 
yet so far as to unsettle his Mind on the most im- 
portant of all Questions, our Destiny after Death. 
I have never been satisfactorily Informed, whether 
his Doubts were removed, or the State of his Mind 
changed previous to his Dissolution.^^ 

As to the Customs of the first Inhabitants, their 
Habits and Modes of enjoying themselves, and how 
they differ from the present Times, I have nothing 
in particular to Remark. Every Thing then was 
conducted on a Scale of Economy and Comfort ; 
Luxury and Ostentation were then in the Cradle ; 
the former had not yet "poured out her glittering 
Stores." The Transition from the Habits and Cus- 

^^This Impression, which wlio admired Hume, and the 

may have been acquired by Remark of Mr. Bird on the 

an Anecdote often related of occasion was as scathing as 

Mr. Bird while a Student, but his Mother Tongue would ad- 

which will not very well admit mit of. Mr. Bird built the 

of Repetition here, is believed House on the north-east Cor- 

to be erroneous. The Anec- ner of Congress and Second 

dote rather tended to prove Street, which in the early Part 

the Reverse of what is here of the Century was one of the 

represented. It was not Mr. best Houses in Troy, now con- 

BiRD, but a fellow Student verted into Law OflBces. 



Reminiscences of Troy. 99 

toms of those Days, to the present Times, compares 
with what generally takes Place, when moderate 
Means and straightened Circumstances, are suc- 
ceeded by the Acquisition of great Wealth, attended 
by general Prosperity. 

With the preceding Outlines I close my Remarks. 
Troy needs no Eulogist ; " there she is, behold her, 
" and judge for yourselves." 

Respectfully your Obedient Servant, 

JOHN WOODWORTH. 




INDEX. 



Adams, Elisha, 72. 
Elijah, 8. 
Mass., 51. 
Adancourt, Francis, 25, 43, 44. 
Adventurers, bold, 17. 
Agrarian law, 5. 

Albany, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24, 27, 
44,55,56, 70, 71, 73,91. 
academy, 1, 3. 
annals of, 71, 91. 
capitalists, 70. 
charter election, 95. 
county clerk's office, 86. 

divided, 18. 
Gazette, 18, 52, 82. 
institute, 75, 81. 
market, 13. 
population of, 20. 
presbytery, 78. 
state of, 51. 
street, 25. 
Allen, George, 84. 
Allotments, 71, 86. 

earliest, 21. 
American spy, 44. 



Anti-federalists, 42, 43. 

Ash swamp battle, 38, 

Ashley, Stephen, 20, 21, 63, 65, 80, 

89. 
Ashley's fei-ry, 16, 18. 
Assemblymen elected, 28, 29, 37. 
Assessors, 1799, 84. 
Atkinson, Frances, 87. 
Attorney-general, 29. 
Austin, Bailey, 6. 
Babcock's tavern, 65. 
Ballot book, 54. 
Bank building, 62. 
dividend, 63. 
established, 26, 36. 
first directors, 62. 
of the United States, 80. 
Baptist church, 83. 
Barentsen, Jan, 85, 86. 
Barter trade, 25. 
Bateau voyage, 17. 
Bayeux, John H., 72. 
Bear shot, 8. 
Beck, T. R., 75. 
Bedminster, N. J., 38. 



102 



Index. 



Beeman, Rev. Dr., 83. 
Bennington, 52. 

paper mill, 46. 
Biographical sketches^ 
Ashley, Stephen, 65. 
Campbell, Donald, 57. 
Coe, Rev. Jonas, 77. 
Gale, Samuel, 48. 
Knickerbacker, Herman, 91. 
Lane, Derick, 38. 
Lovett, John, 1. 
, Pawling, Albert, 53. 
Piatt, Ananias, 19, 
Tibbits, George, 36. 
Van der Hey den, Jacob D., 12. 
Jacob J., 10. 
Matthias, 9. 
Woodworth, John, 29. 
Bird, John, 92, 94. 

Seth, 94. 
Blatchford, Rev. Dr., 79. . 
Boardman, John, 21, 84. 

Mr. 64. 
Bookstore, first, 46. 
Bradly, Mr., 39. 

William, 62. 
Brandywine, battle, 38. 
Brick dwelling house, first by New 

England settlers, 25. 
Bridge over Maumee, 7. 
Brown, Jonathan, 18, 62. 
Budget (see Northern Budget, and 

Troy Daily Budget). 
Buel, David, 51, 84. 
post master, 46, 51. 
David, Jr., iv, 9, 27, 51, 87. 
address, 9, 27, 87. 
Building lots on Washington square, 
25. 



Buildings erected, 21, 87. 
Business habits, 26. 

men, 48. 

integrity of, 26. 
Burr, Col., 3, 
Bushingki!! coimty, 51. 
Butler, Rev. David, 82. 
Butter trade, 24. 

C, little used in Neiderduitsch, 74. 
Ca-ira, 40. 
Caldwell, James, 13. 

Mat., 13. 
Campbell, Donald, 57, 58. 
Canada, army march to, 5, 57. 

French rule terminated in, 58. 
Canal project, 37. 
Canoe voyage, 2, 7. 
Capital abundant, 48. 
Carrying trade lucrative, 46. 
Census, 47. 
Cheese trade, 24. 
Chemung battle, 38. 
Church, Baptist, 83. 

first erected, 23 

paper money, 80. 

penny, 80. 

(see first Presbyterian.) 

St. John's, 83. 

toleration, 82. 

first Methodist, 83. 
Churches, building of, 80. 
Cincinnati, member of, 38. 
Citizens of influence, 21, 63. 
City tavern, 56. 
Clerk of county, first, 18. 
Clinton, Col. James, 53. 

De Witt, 37, 47. 

George, 54. 
Clintoniaus, 43. 



Index. 



103 



Coe, Edward M., 79. 
John R., 80. 
John, 77. 

had seven sons in battle, 77. 
Rev. Jonas, 23, 64, 77, 82. 
biog. sketch of, 77. 
Coeymans, Johannes, 86. 
Coinage not begun, 75. 
Coit, Mr., 64. 
Collection in churches, 80. 

of newest cotillions and country 
dances, 45. 
College of New Jersey, 77. 
Collier, Thomas, 25. 
Commerce, important item of, 24. 

by barter, 25. 
Commercial enterprise, 14. 
Commissioners of taxes, 47. 
Concert of action, 47. 
Conchshell to call religious meet- 
ings, 23. 
Congress, 57. 

member of, 37, 85, 92. 
Constitution took effect, 30. 
Couch's mills battle, 38. 
Council of appointment, 50. 
County treasurer, 66. 
judge, 18, 66. 
clerk, 18, 50, 66. 
Courts, 89. 

house, 42, 61, 76. 

erected, 20, 21, 22, 28. 
martial, 57. 
Covell, Benjamin, 21, 84. 
Coxsackie, 73. 
Crafts, Moses, 84. 
Credit, long, 50. 

mutually supported, 26, 
Crown Point, 57- 



Currency, 80. 
Dancing master, 45. 
Davis, Thomas, 84. 
Dickinson, JohnD., 39, 62. 
Division street, 9, 21, 27, 54, 65. 
Dole, James, 84. 
sheriff, 87. 
Druggist, 50. 
Duer, Col., 3, 4. 
Duers, publick speakers, 4, 
Dutch church, Albany, 89. 

genealogy, difficult to trace, 73. 
gentleman, 93. 
reformed tenets, 93. 
surnames, 72. 
Dwellings, 27, 64. 

erected, 17, 25, 49, 87. 
number of, 47, 
Eastern immigrants, 27. 
Eighth street, 12. 
Eleetion 1798, 21. 
1799, 83. 
1802, 28. 
Elections, purity of, 84. 
Elector for president, 29, 30. 
Elmendorf, Conrad J., 51. 
Emerald isle, 13. 
Emott, Hon. James, 95,. 
Enterprise, spirit of, 20, 44. 
Episcopal church, 82. 
Evertsen, name how derived, 73. 
Farmers' Bank, 36, 39, 62, 64. 
inn, 65. 
Oracle, 24, 45. 
Register, 25, 43, 44. 
Farms leased at Schaghticoke, 70. 
Federal government propitious to 

trade, 20. 
Federalists, 23, 40, 41,43. 



104 

Federalists triumphant, 28. 

favored constitutiou, 42. 
Female seminary, 76. 
Ferry, 65. 
lower, 12. 

street, 12, 21, 25, 65. 
upper, 4, 12, 49. 
Ferryman, old, 13. 
Feudal grandeur, 4, 
Fire Wardens, 1799, 84. 
First Judge, 18. 

Methodist church, 83. 
Presbyterian church, 23, 61, 
SO, 81, 82, 88. 
new, 80. 
Albany, 80. 
street, 27, 49. 
built on, 25. 
church, 80. 
Flouring mill, large, 24. 
Ford, Philip, 74. 
Port, J. A., 83. 
Fort Meigs, 7, 8. 
Miller, 3, 4. 
Foster, Miss, 68. 
Franklin, B., 46. 
Prats, Elias, 73. 
Freeholders, meeting of, 18. 
French against Lent, 31. 
Jacobins, 40. 
revolution, 40. 
Friends' meeting house, 8S. 

society, 53. 
Frontiers, defence of, 55. 
Fry, Elizabeth, 53. 
Funeral, large, 55. 
Gfale, Dr. Benj., 48, 49. 

Samuel, 21, 23, 27, 48, 51. 
Samuel, Jr., 49, 50. 



Index. 

Gale, Sarah, 49. 
Townsend, 49. 
William, 49. 
Gambrel roof, 9, 11, 65. 
Gardinier, Henry, 74. 
Gaston, Miss, 12. 
Goodspeed, Anthony, 21. 
Gorton, Benjamin, 50, 68, 81, 84. 
Goshen, 48. 
Gowans, William, 45. • 
Grain trade, 23, 24, 46. 
Grand Division street, 12, 21. 
64, Gray, Daniel, 83. 
Green, John, 84. 
Greenbush, 52. 
Greenwood, George, 84. 
Gregory, Matthew, 19. 
Griffiths, John, 45. 
Groves of oak and pine, 27. 
Guthrie's Geography, 20. 
Haddlesfield battle, 38. 
Half Moon point, 2. 
Hall, B. H., iv. 

P., 84. 
Halsted, Hannah, 77. 
Hamilton, Gen., 3. 
Hansen, John, 71. 
Hart, Richard P., 63. 
Hartford, paper from, 46. 
Head quarters, 55. 
Heartt, Jonas C, 64. 

Philip, 21, 64, 66. 
Heath, Gen., 54. 
Heights of Abraham, 58. 
Helgat, genuine Dutch name, 76. 
Hellgate, absurd name for Helgat, 76. 
Henry, John V., 92. 
Heresy, 69. 
Hickok, James, 62, 



Index. 



105 



Hill street, 27. 
Hinmau, Gideon, 72. 
Hitchcock, Zina, 83. 
Hoffman, Josiali Ogden, 
Hogeboom, J. L., 84. 
Holy Cross church, 12. 
Hoosick, 29, 52. 
street, 54. 



House, oldest, 9. 
Houses, but two in Troy, 54. 
Hubbard, Ruggles, 43, 50, 51. 
Hudson, 68. 

valley produce, 23. 
Hunt, Jonathan, 75. 
Alsop, 75. 
paper money, 75. 
of Hunt's Point, 76. 
Hurlgate, insignificant name for Hel- 
gat, 76. 
pilot, 76. 
Hutton, Christopher, 22, 62. 
federalist, 23. 
Timothy, 26. 
Rev. Dr., 27. 
Ida falls, 24. 

Immigrants, 17, 20, 27, 32, 36, 87. 
Indian corn grounds, 8. 
debauchery, 49. 
fights, 2. 

proprietors convey, 85. 
wigwams, 12. 
Industry of people, 14, 44. 
Innkeeper in Albany, 70. 
Intolerance of politics, 40, 41, 43. 
Iron hill battle, 38. 
Irving, Washington, 91. 
Italian piazzas, 4. 
Jail, first erected, 22. 

14 



Janes, Elijah, 62. 

Jansen, name how derived, 73. 

Jefferson, president, 51. 

Johnson, Col., 38. 

Jones, Ebenezer, 75, 84. 

Judges, 18, 30, 92 (see County Judge). 

Katy, Lady, 3, 4. 

Kent, Moss, 18. 

chancellor, 18. 
Killingworth, 48, 49. 
Kingston academy, 54, 
Knikkerbakker, Diederik, 90. 
Knickerbacker, Herman, 91. 
biog. sketch of, 92. 
John, 91. 
Johaunis, 91. 

not original family name, 93. 
Ladies, appeal to patriotism of, 46. 
Lafayette, Marquis, 38. 
Lake Champlain trade, 23. 

Erie, first steamboat on, 7. 
George, 17. 
Lane, Derick, biog. sketch of, 38. 
Aaron, 38. 
Matthias, 38. 
Jacob L., 71, 85. 
Lansing, Abm., 73. 
Cornelius, 71. 
Derick C, 72. 
Jacob, 72, 
Jacob D., 73. 
John, Jr., 29. 
Levinus, 71. 
Maria, 38. 
Lathrop, Rev. Dr., 69. 
Lawyers indicted, 43. 
Lansingburgh, 4, 12, 17, 19, 21, 23, 
24, 27, 31, 36, 40, 44, 45, 62, 
77, 78, 79, 88, 92. 



106 



Index. 



Lansingburgh federalists, 42, 

first stage, 19. 

newspapers, 44. 

old road to, 11. 

prosperity of, 20. 

village of, 6. 
Lee, Rev. Andrew, 2. 
Legislator, 92. 
Letters for distant places in Troy 

post office, 51. 

carried by post riders, 52. 
Levisee, Levinus, 73. 
Lewis, Robert, 56. 
Lewisites, 43. 
Libellous writings, 39, 43. 
Library, subscription, 44. 
Litcbfield, Conn., 94. 
Littleton, Lord, 59. 
Livingston, chancellor, 96. 
Location favourable, 16, 30. 
Long Island battle, 38. ' 

Lord, Russell, 84. 
Loudon, Dr. John, 27, 75. 
Louisbourg, battle of, 58. 
Lovat, cadet of, 2. 
Lovett, Capt., 2. 

John, 1, 88, 96. 

biographical sketch of, 1. 
Lumber trade, 24. 
Madison, president, 92. 
Madison's administration, 50. 
Mails, none, 52. 
Malcom, Col. Wm., 54, 55, 
Man of Ross, 67. 
Manchester, 13. 

Manners of early inhabitants, 26. 
Mansion House, 64. 

of Patroon, 12. 
Mapletown, 52. 



Market house, proposed to build, 84. 
Marlborough, Duke, 59. 
Marsellais hymn sung, 40. 
Massachusetts trade, 17. 
Masters, Josiah, 22, 83. 
Maumee reservation, 6. 
Mayor's hat, farms drawn from, 71. 
McCarty, Rebekah (married Jacob 

M. instead of Matthias), 74. 
McClellan, Gen., 4. 
McConihe, Judge, iii, 1, 
McCoun, Townsend, 62, 64. 

family, 64. 
McKown, James, 62, 83. 
McMath, drowned, 13. 
Meadow creek, 8, 62, 86. 
Meigs, Gov., 6. 
Members of legislature, 28. 
Merchants and Mechanics' Bank, 85. 

supported post routes, 52. 
Merrit, Daniel, 52, 62, 84. 

Isaac, 52. 
Metre, long and short, 93, 94. 
Middle farm, 12. 
Middlebrook, 55. 
Military faneral, 55. 
Mill creek, 62. 
Millennium, 69. 
Miller, Eliza H., 79. 

Dr. Matthias, 79. 

Phoebe, 79. 

Hon. Morris S., 79. 
Minden, battle of, 58. 
Moffit, Robert, 25, 44, 45. 

died, 46. 

Hosea, 62. 
Mohawk valley produce, 23. 
Monmouth battle, 38, 55. 
Montague, Mrs. Elizabeth, 59. 



Index, 



107 



Montgomery, Gen., 54, 55, 59, 60. 
Moore, Sir John, burial of, 60. 
Moral and religious principles, 14. 
Morgan, Epbraim, 21, 62. 
Boardman & Colt, 64. 
Morris, Walter R., 72. 
Moulton, Howard, 76. 
Munsell's Annals, 71, 91. 
Nassau, 83. 
National Hotel, 21. 

(see St. Charles.) 
Navigation, 22. 

liead of, 17, 44. 
improved, 26. 
Negroes, 49, 52. 
(see slaves.) 
New Brunswick, 77. 
New City, 22, 23, 36, 48. 

former name of Lansingburgh, 

17, 20. 
improvidently located, 21. 
mart of trade, 22. 
New England emigrants, 17, 20. 
New Hampstead, 77. 
New Jersey regiment, 38. 
New loan officers, 29, 38, 87. 
Newport, R. I., 61. 
Newspapers, 43, 44, 45. 

carried by post riders, 52. 
first, 24. 

Lansingburgh, 19. 
New State, early name of "Vermont, 

20, 22. 
Newton battle, 38. 
New York, 27, 45, 77. 
ballot book, 54. 
bank, 80. 
carrying trade, 63. 
first paper mill in, 46. 



New York legislature met in, 28. 

trade with, 27. 
Niagara, 90. 

post riders to, 52. 
Nicols, Gov. Richard, 85. 
Niles, Jonathan, 22. 
Northern army, 54. 

bank, 62. 

Budget, 25, 43, 44, 45, 47, 52. 

Centinel, 44. 

counties, trade of, 24. 

expenses of, 46. 

farm, 10, 

part of the state wilderness, 78. 
Northwestern frontier, defence of, 5. 
Noyes, Sarah, 36. 
Oak groves, 27. 
Odel, Jonas, 21. 
Olden time, 14. 
Oldest inhabitant, 49. 
Oliver, Aaron, 52. 
Oothout, Henry, 74, 
Orchards, 27. 
Original proprietor, 85. 
Owen, Mary, 72. 

Joshua, 72. 
Paine, Amasa, 67. 

Thomas, 60. 
Paper mill, 46. 

from Hartford, 46. 

money, 75, SO, 81. 
Party lines established, 28. 
Patroon of Troy, iv, 12, 21, 72, 85. 
Pawling, Albert, 18, 23, 51, 53, 61, 
84, 87. 
biog. sketch of, 53, 
Levi, 53. 
Pearl ashes, 17, 24. 
street, Albany, 56. 



108 



Index. 



Peebles, Hugh, 62. 
Perrysburgh, 7, 
Persons taxable, 47. 
I'etersburgh, 52. 
Pierce, Jeremiah, 65. 

William, 65. 
Pine groves, 27. 
Pioneer settlers, 21, 22. 
I'iscawen creek, 86, 
Pittstown, 29, 52. 
l^lain, Albany, 57. 
Plains of Abraham, 57. 
Piatt, Ananias, 19, 56. 
Plattsburgh, 78. 
Poesten bouwery, 70, 86. 
first owner, 85. 

kil, 8, 24, 85, 86. 
mills, 75. 
Politics, asperity of, 39, 41, 42, 43. 
Political supremacy, struggle for, 30. 
Population, 20, 27, 45, 47. 
Porter, Judge, 94. 
Peter B., 69, 94. 
Post master, 49, 50, 66. 
Post office established, 51. 
Post riders, 52. 

advertisement, 52. 
Pot ashes, 17, 24. 
Poughkeepsie, 95. 
J^ratt, Luther, 24, 45. 
i'resbytery of Albany, 78. 

Troy, 80. 
Presbyterian tenets, 93, 94. 
Presidential elector, 29, SO, <hQ. 
Prince of Orange, 91. 

of Schaghticoke, 93. 
Princeton theological seminary, 80. 
Printers indicted, 43. 
Printing introduced, 45. 



Produce, how received, 26. 
Property taxable, 47. 

qualification, 47. 
Prophetick observations, 16, 18. 
Protestant Episcopal church, 82. 
Publick buildings, 22. 

house, 12. 
Quebeck, battle of, 55, 58. 

storming of, 55, 57. 
Queen's college, 77. 
Queeustown, battle of, 5. 
Rags, preservation of, 46, 
Raymond, Joshua, 67. 
Redfield & Bradly, 39. 
Reformed Dutch church, 27, 93. 
Regent of the University, 30. 
Religion, early supporters, 22. 
Religious meetings, first, 23. 

toleration, 82. 
Reminiscences, request to write, 13. 
Rensselaer county elections, 28. 
erected, 18, 22. 

institute, 8. 
Rent of Troy farm, 8, 86. 
Republican party, 66. 
Republicans discountenanced aspe- 
rity, 40. 

opposed state constitution, 42. 
Revised laws, 30. 
Revivals, 78. 
Rider, John, 51. 
Rival of Lansingburgh, 17. 
River street, 12, 21, 24, 25, 27,,50, 
51, 52, 54, 63, 65, 68, 73. 
not laid out when second 
house built, 11, 

sounded, 17. 
Road to Lansingburgh, 54, 62. 
Roads constructed, 26. 



Index. 



109 



Rodgers, Rev. Dr., 77. 
Round flat, 71. 
Rouse, Jonathan, 18, 29. 
Russell, Ebenezer, 83. 

Joseph, 64. 
Rutgers college, 77. 
Ryan, John, 29. 
Salisbury, 94. 
Schaahkooks creek, 71. 
Schaghticoke, 70, 91. 
Schenectady, 16. 

stage, 19. 
Schermerhorn, J. W., 83. 
Schodack, 29, 52. 
Schoharie, 51. 
Schuyler, Gen., 3. 
John, 12. 
Madam, 56. 
Nicholas, 18. 
Peter, 96. 
Scotch plains battle, 38. 
Scow, solitary, 12. 
Second street, 25, 27, 64. 
Seignories, failure to build up, 4. 
Selden, Charles, 62. 
Senator, votes for, 83. 
Senators elected, 28, 37. 
Settlement commenced, 17, 21. 
Settler, early, 55. 

first, 65. 
Settlers encouraged, 26. 
Shaftsbury, 52. 
Sheriff, 84. 

first, 18. 
Shin plasters, 75, 81. 
Shingles three feet long, 11. 
Short hills battle, 38. 
Shreve, Israel, 38. 
Sign, Ashley's, 65. 



Sill, Richard, 3. 

Skelding,Capt., 75. 

Slaves, 92. 

Sloop passage, 48. 

Small pox, 27. 

Smith, Benjamin, 21, 64, 66, 84. 

bail for all Vermont, 67. 
Specie currency, 80. 
Spencer, Ambrose, 30. 
Col., 55. 
James, 25. 
Springfield battle, 38. 
Spoor, Dr. A. D., 10. 
Spoils belong to the victors, 84. 
Sprague, Rev. Dr. W. B., iv. 

Annals American Pulpit, iv, 80. 
Stage, exclusive right to run, 19. 
State loan, county share, 29. 
State street, 83. 

Albany, 56, 89. 
Staats, Nicholas, 22. 
Stamford church, 77. 
Steamboat, first on Lake Erie, 7. 
Stephentown, 29, 52, 
Stevenson, Mr., 61. 
(misprint), 63. 
Stewart, Joseph B., 7. 

Samuel, 62. 
Stiles, Capt., 38. 

Rev. Ezra, 2, 3. 
Stirling, Lord, 3, 89. 
Catharine, 3, 4. 
Stores erected, 23, 25, 27, 47, 50, 51, 

76, 87. 
Street, Alfred B., iv. 

Council of Revision, iv. 31. 
St. Charles hotel, 12. 
St. John's, taking of, 55. 
church, 83. 



110 



Index. 



St. Paul's church, 37. 

Surrogate, 19, 29. 

Surveys, earliest, 21, 87. 

Swiss regiment, 55. 

Taylor, Mahlon, 12, 21, 24, 75, 87. 

Tavern, MouUon's, 76. 

Babcock's, 65, 

first, 65. 

Pierce's, 65. 

(see Ashley, Piatt, Lewis.) 
Tax Commissioners, 47. 
Ten Eyck, Abraham, 51, 74, 84. 
Anthony, 18, 23. 
orthography of, 74. 
Teunissen, Jan, 85. 

Swere, 85, 86. 
Third street, 27, 83. 
Thomas, Andrews & Penniman, 46. 
Thompson, Israel, 18. 
Tibbits, George, 63, 83. 

biog. sketch of, 36. 

John, 36. 

Benjamin, 36, 37, 62. 
Tides, rise of, 17. 
Timber, excellence of, 11. 
Tontine, Albany, 19, 56. • 

Town, comprehended Troy and Lan- 

singburgh, 77. 
Toleration, see religion. 
Treatise on dancing, 45. 
Troup, Col., 3. 
Troy Bank, 63. 

before settlement, 8. 

Daily Budget, 37, 63. 

Daily Whig, 55. 

Gazette, 25, 43. 

house, 52. 

Morning Mail, 55. 

name, whence derived, 15, 17, 



Troy named, 18. 
Trustees in 1799, 84. 
Twelve mile square, 6, 
Ulster county, 53. 
Uncle Derick, 9, 71, 
Union college, 77, 79, 80. 
Upper ferry, 8, 12, 49. 
Vail, George, 85. 

Henry, 85. 

Moses, 24, 83, 84, 85. 
Van Aernam, 71. 
Van Allen, John E., 62. 
Van den Berg, signification of name, 

72. 
Van den Bergh, orthography of, 74. 
Van der Heyden, 

Aaron, 73. 

Abram D., 74. 

Alida, 71. 

Blandina, 72. 

Big Jacob, 9. 

Catharine, wife of L. Lansing, 71. 

Catharine, wife of Jacob Lansing, 
72. 

Catharine, daughter of Abram 
D., 74. 

David I., 71, 73, 86, 

Derick G., 12. 

Derick I., 12, 73. 

Derick, 70, 71, 86, 

Derick, 73. 

Derick, 74. 

Derick M., 74. 

Derick Y., 72. 

Dirk, 8, 70, 71, 86. 

Elizabeth, 71, 72. 

George, 74. 

Henry M., 74. 

Hester, 71. 



Index, 



111 



Van der Heyden, 
Jacob, 74. 

Jacob, 10, 12, 71, 73, 86. 
Jacob D., 8, 9, 10, 12, 21, 71, 

72. 
Jacob D., 72, 85. 
Jacob D. E.,72, 73. 
Jacob I., 9, 10, 73. 
Jacob I., 73, 74. 
Jacob I., 74. 
Jacob M., 74. 
Jane, 72. 

Jane Elizabeth, 73. 
John, 73. 
John, 74. 
JohnD., 74,87. 
John F., 74. 
John G., 12, 72. 
Levinus D., 74. 
Maria, 73. 
Maria, 74. 
Matthias, 9, 10, 65. 
Matthias, 70, 71, 74, 86, 87. 
Matthias, 74, 
Nancy, 73. 

Nanning, 73. '- - 

Richard, 74. 
Robert, 73. 
Sally, 74. 
Sally Ann M., 72. 
Samuel, 72, 73, 
Samuel D., 73. 
Susan, 74. 
Susanna, 72. 

Uncle Derick, 9, 70, 71, 72, 74. 
farm houses, 21. 
ferry, 54. 

former name of Troy, 17,'18, 
21, 22. 



Van der Heyden, 

genealogy, iv, 71. 

house, 10, 65. 

patent, 85, 

signification of name, 72. 
Van Ness, W. P-, 30. 
Van Schaick, Maria, 10, 73. 

Aaron, 73. 

Van Schoonhoven, Guert, 62. 

Van Rensselaer, Angelica, 38. 

H. K., 83. 

Stephen, 47, 56, 90. 
lease from, 86. 
Solomon, 6, 90. 
Van Valsar, Swere Teunissen, 85, 
Van Vechten, Abm., 3. 
Lucas, 86, 87. 
Van Waglam, Petrie, 86. 
Vary, Samuel, 29, 
Verdict for libel, 43. 
Vermont, 13, 20. 

debts, difficulty of collection, 67. 

trade, 17, 24, 46. 
Village, date of, 21. * 

lots, laid out, 21. 

officers, 84. 
Volunteers in Revolution, 2. 

march to Canada, 5. 
Vote for governor, 47. 
Voters, number in 1799, 84. 
Walk in the water, steamboat, 7. 
Walnut grove, 12. 
Warehouses built, 17. 
Warren family, 63. 

Esaias, 63. 

Stephen, 63, 64. 

Nathan, 63. 
Warwick, R. I., 36, 
Washington occurrences, 92. 



112 



Index. 



Washington square, 25. 

street, 25. 

Albany, 57. 
Waterford, 3. 

directors of bank, 62. 

stage, 19. 
Water power, 22, 24. 
Watson, Elkanah, 16. 
Wayne's battle ground, 7. 
Wealth acquired, 14. 
Websters, Ensign & Seymour, 46. 
Weeks, Silas, 84. 
West Springfield, 69. 
Wheat, barter for, 17. 

staple article, 23. 

how stored and loaded, 24. 

trade, 46. 
Whitehall church, 80. 
White Plains battle, 38, 55. 
Willard, Mrs. Emma, 76. 
Wilson, Ebenezer, 21. 



Wilson Samuel, 21. 
Winne, Robert M., 74. 
Winter market, 46. 
Witbeck, Mr., 24. 

Woodworth, John, iii, iv, 29, 62, 83, 
84, 99. 

biographical sketch of, 29. 

first post master, 51. 

Robert, 18, 22, 29. 
Wolfe, Gen., 57, 58,59, 60. 
Wool, General, 73. 
Wright, editor of Gazette, 43. 
Wynants kil, 24. 
Yale college graduate, 94. 
Yankee enterprise, 16. 
Yates, Adam, 72. 

Jane, 72. 

Miss, 12. 

Robert, 83. 
Yorktown battle, 38. 
Young Men's association, 54. 



)0 



1-1? 



